Bee Cruse
a.k.a BeeDazzled Shanks: The Prince of Redfern
Aunty Iris: “[Bee] will be the next storyteller of our family.”
Award nominated Director and Writer. Actor. Drag King. Fighter for life's most important thing: Love. This is just a few of the wonderful aspects that make up the multidisciplinary being that is: Bee Cruse.
Bee Cruse spent most of 2024 performing Johnna in Belvoir St. and Black Swan Theatre Company's resurgence of the Oklahoma classic "August: Osage County". Not only did the performances earn standing ovations all over the country, it meant that Bee could use her debut on the main stage to fully dive into what it means to take on the weight of representing her Native American lineage.
On finding the strength within herself to authentically represent Johnna:
"My partner connected me to Kimberly Guerrero, who played the original Johnna", Cruse says, "she gave me beautiful blessings to dive into my Turtle Island character, with a safe space of mob around me."
Dynamic duo Dr. Lou Glover and Bee Cruse have been together in this shiz…sorry, “biz” since day dot!
With 7 years under their belt, this flourishing partnership navigates dips and turns of the the the performing arts industry in Australia, while also raising a family together. AND being in love.
Literally, anything is possible.
I’m out here not even getting a text back!
A flourishing career, a flourishing relationship and a flourishing family history
Biripi. Wiradjuri. Yuin. Native American. Chinese.
These are the many cultures that Bee is. Whose ancestry she speaks through whenever she creates her work. Whose pride shines through in whatever space she enters.
Apart from the many creative avenues that Bee cultivates, the responsibility to her identity is never far from sight, which is what makes her such a powerhouse to know.
Even when performing to sold out main stage classics, writing, directing, taking care of family and being there for community, Bee is an Indigenous Consultant, who was asked, this year, to fly to Oklahoma to speak on her Storytelling practices at the Native American and Indigenous Studies Conference (NAISA).
(Due to America being an absolute mess rn, this has been postponed.)
On the subject of heritage and representing authentic selves, honourable mention goes to Docu-series "Queens of the Queer Underground", an ABC production that was nominated at Leeds film Festival and the International Emmy Awards in 2024.
Cruse's written and directed short, "I am Kai" was a part of this series, where storyteller, Kai, picked up the award on Bee’s behalf.
You can watch now by pressing the button just above :)
“My blood is strong.”
Bee Cruse
Images from left to right: OutInPerth, National Theatre of Parramatta, Mick Tait Photography, Belvoir Street Theatre 
Watch: "My Drag Story: BeeDazzled Shanks"Testimonials:
“Bee shines…[and] brings a calm, direct dignity…”
- Giovanni Torre
“[Bee’s] using elegant restraint as a philosophical instrument…”
- Suzy Goes See
“Ms Cruse brings a multifaceted perspective to her performance and storytelling.”
- Joseph Guenzler
“I care about taking up space and being seen, just so our young ones can feel like they can do and be anything.”
- Bee Cruse
Image: Unknown