Art & Performance
Creative work that entertains, activates, and makes space for joy.
Lauren Semple (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans murals, drag, storytelling, and stage performance. Whether they’re painting murals, mentoring new drag artists, or performing original works that blend education with entertainment, Lauren’s creative practice is rooted in community, colour, and self-expression.
Over the past two decades, Lauren has built a body of work that celebrates queer joy, starts conversations, and reclaims public and performance spaces for those often pushed to the margins. As one half of the mural duo Humanity in Art, their large-scale public artworks can be found across the mid-island. Their drag persona, Andi Rogynous, brings heart, humour, and a dose of politics to the stage through solo storytelling shows, mentorship, and performances that leave crowds wowed.
Lauren’s creative work explores themes of joy, colour, queerness, gender, community care, access, and resistance. It’s art that sparks reflection, celebrates difference, and makes space for all of who we are - loudly, proudly, and unapologetically.
Visual Art
Lauren is the co-creator of Humanity in Art, an 8-year public art collaboration that has produced dozens of murals across Nanaimo. From large-scale works to collaborative alley takeovers, their mural work centres joy, justice, and community gathering in public space. With HIA, wrapping up in 2025, Lauren is now exploring a solo mural practice. In addition to public work, Lauren also creates smaller-scale works in painting and sculpture.
Stage Performance
Lauren Semple is a multidisciplinary performer with over 25 years of experience spanning musical theatre, acting, dance, and drag. Most recently seen as the Emcee in Cabaret (LLT/LMA), Lauren’s career is defined by transformative character work and high-energy storytelling.
Notable credits include Maureen in Rent (SP), Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof (SW), Madam Zee in The Cult of Brother XII (WE), and a Cagelle in La Cage aux Folles (SP). Outside of traditional theatre, Lauren is the creator and star of the original production Unboxing Bravery. Performed as their drag persona, Andi Rogynous, the show blends high-octane performance with personal narrative to educate and inspire audiences.
Whether through classic scores or original drag works, Lauren remains dedicated to the art of bold, inclusive performance.
Drag
Under the drag name Andi Rogynous (he/they), Lauren is a drag king, mentor, and producer. Their original show Unboxing Bravery premiered at the InFringing Dance Festival in 2023, and then opened Western Edge Theatre’s 24/25 season, bringing together personal storytelling, audience interaction, and queer education through performance.
They have produced and hosted dozens of shows, often creating original content for holiday parodies, variety nights, and community fundraisers, and are known for their high energy, sharp wit, and supportive energy on and off stage.
