The Diana Mixtape ★★★★★

A sparkling crowd of drag royalty, queer icons and industry ‘glitter’ati… no, we’re not at another of Christopher Biggin’s birthday parties, we’ve packed into HERE @ Outernet for the world premiere of The Diana Mixtapes, a big, bold, five-(drag)star celebration of the People’s Princess like you’ve never seen her before. And yes, that’s right, there are five of her!

Writer and Director, Christopher D. Clegg (Death Drop, Gals Aloud), has crafted something uniquely fairy-tale-like this summer: five queens, each channelling a different Diana, and if that combination tickles your interest, you couldn’t want for more with this show!

Clegg’s writing is whip-smart, surprisingly tender and celebrates Diana as an icon, rebel and fighter, whilst avoiding the pitfalls of controversy which surrounded her life and death. The queens impersonate, but more vitally, interpret Diana, and even the Charles and Camilla scenes don’t veer into pantomime baddie territory, and that’s what makes it work.

Courtney Act brings wide-eyed innocence, Priyanka glows with elegance and poise, Rosé delivers emotional depth and vocals for daaayyyss, Divina De Campo gives us hard-won grace, and Kitty Scott-Claus (our star of the show) is pure sass and delivers us that unmistakeable Diana side-eye. Each moment of the show is delivered on a silver platter as a pop confession, and together this fantastic five form a royal portrait that’s hilarious but packed with heart. The moment in the show where Rosé is dressed in a replica of Diana’s unforgettable wedding dress whilst footage of Diana’s smiling face on her wedding day is projected onto the front of the dress, is a heart wrenching moment that reminds you of the innocent start to her journey.

The supporting cast also hit every high-note, comedy moment, and over exaggerated characteristic. Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) is formidable as Her Majesty QEII, Noel Sullivan (of 00’s Hear’Say fame) unexpectedly smarms it up perfectly as Charles, and Lucinda Lawrence’s Camilla is a camp delight. The ensemble led by Ashton Bradley and Henry Chatfield are the ivory-hued icing on the five-tiered fruitcake and dance like it’s their last day at the palace. Taz Hoesli’s choreography truly lifts the show from camp to campest!

What really makes this show more than just another campy drag droll though is its perfect blend of pop music and storytelling. Forget royal protocols, this is Diana via Britney, Gaga, Dua, Billie and Ariana, and every single jukebox moment lands with an almost unnervingly precise relevance to Diana’s life story, turning each song into a personal anthem for her.

Design-wise, the show is a feast. River Smith’s costumes and River Medway’s wig designs are witty and glorious, and Adam Nightingale’s video design gives the show its pop-concert slickness. It all looks ridiculously glitzy, in the best way.

The show is loud, camptastic, and utterly joyous, and judging by the roars of approval from the audience (including several Drag Race alums), this show could be on its way to being a cult classic in the making.

If you love pop, power ballads and powerful queens, this is the show for you. The Diana Mixtape is a fierce, funny, and fabulous tribute fit for a queen… five queens and the People’s Princess, in fact.