Part jukebox musical, part drag show – The Diana Mixtape is outrageous, camp, chaos.
A drag queen extravaganza celebrating one of the world’s most iconic royal figures, The Diana Mixtape is a glittering whirlwind of pop anthems, humour and outrageous performances. The show is a celebration of Diana, her rise to fame, and her tumultuous relationship with Prince Charles – all set to a soundtrack of some of the biggest pop hits of the 21st Century. The show also plays homage to some of Diana’s most well-recognised outfits – including, of course, the iconic ‘revenge’ dress… with a few extra sequins here and there, for good measure. Created by Christopher D Clegg, it’s chaotic, campy, and utterly unpredictable.
At the heart of the show is, of course, the astonishing drag talent. Courtney Act, Divina De Campo, Priyanka, Rosé, and Kitty Scott-Claus all take turns embodying the people’s princess, and each brings their own flair to the role. Whether it’s Priyanka’s dramatic take on Lady Gaga’s ‘Paparazzi’ or Courtney Act’s perfectly sassy rendition of Demi Lovato’s ‘Sorry Not Sorry’, each Queen adds something unique.
The standout of the night was Rosé. It’s easy for the show’s high-energy, campy vibe to overshadow more emotional performances, but Rosé’s performances of Jade’s ‘Angel of My Dreams’ and Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Vampire’ were beautiful moments that showcased her skills as a vocalist and a performer. She has a way of blending powerful vocals with a kind of vulnerability that’s a real joy, especially in a show as loud and brash as this one.
The show doesn’t just rely on the drag queens for its appeal; Tony Award-nominee Keala Settle and Noel Sullivan bring a touch of surprising chaos to their roles as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, respectively. Settle, as the Queen, steals the show – a feat, when you’re up against five real (drag) queens. Her performances were some of the most memorable of the night, in her renditions of Kelly Rowland’s ‘Commander’ and Meghan Trainor’s ‘Mother’. Sullivan’s portrayal of Charles is equally hilarious, and he clearly relishes every moment on stage. Lucinda Lawrence as Camilla leant into the role of panto-villain, and her duets with Sullivan, to Katy Perry’s ‘The One That Got Away’ and Dua Lipa’s ‘Physical’, left the crowd roaring.
Where the show faltered slightly was in its technical execution. The sound mixing could have used some fine-tuning; microphones were at times unbalanced, changing volume mid-song, and the spotlight often seemed to be missing. But these imperfections don’t detract from the overall experience. In fact, the chaotic nature of The Diana Mixtape is a part of its charm. It’s raw, loud and messy in the best possible way, and it’s a show that embraces its imperfections – and when you lean into the madness, you find yourself swept up in it. Some of the staging left a little to be desired, made up primarily of a few trunks on wheels, and we did point out at one point that a sequence using torches was very reminiscent of a GCSE drama performance. But the queens had such an electric stage presence that the limited set design was hardly noticeable.
Is The Diana Mixtape a perfect show? Not quite – and I imagine that it will be a divisive one. But is it a show that you’ll remember? Absolutely. It’s not your typical jukebox musical, and honestly it was quite refreshing. The audience is encouraged to participate – sing, dance, take photos – and at one point Priyanka could be seen pouring prosecco into an audience member’s mouth. For seasoned theatre-goers, the Princess Pit and Royal Mezzanine standing-sections might be a bit of a shock – for most of the show it felt more like I was at a club night or a concert. But embrace the party atmosphere, and it’s an experience like no other. The audience was as much a part of the experience as they were spectators to it.
At its core, The Diana Mixtape is about celebrating someone who, in her own way, broke free of convention and faced challenges with grace, humour and resilience – and a little bit of sass. The show, though messy at times, captures this spirit through its heart, humour, and over-the-top camp.
I thought this was a great show