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REVIEW | The Diana Mixtape, HERE at Outernet - London
- Harry Brogan
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
AD | tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review
“She would have loved to have a drag show about her!” sums up the campy biographical musical that is The Diana Mixtape, now playing at HERE at Outernet. The show is 90 minutes of quick changes, dance routines and pop songs used to recap the iconic Princess Diana’s life, from her “humble” beginning to her life in the royalty, the scandals and sudden death. The show, with musical direction by Matthew Harvey and choreography by Taz Hoesli, is a jukebox of diva anthems, expect big tracks from Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Chappell Roan, and more.
What’s better than one Diana? Well of course, 5 drag superstars in short blonde wigs! Courtney Act, Divina De Campo, Rosé, Kitty Scott-Claus and Priyanka all take the stage embodying Princess Di, at times solo and often in a glitzy ensemble surrounded by dancers (Ashton Bradley, Henry Chatfield, Jordan Jewell, Theo Simpson, Leo Udvarlaky).
Noel Sullivan and Lucinda Lawrence play the all-too-hateable Charles and Camilla with over-the-top flair that somehow still feels unsettlingly accurate. Both bring strong vocals and real stage presence. Alongside Sullivan and Lawrence, after Keala Settle appears on stage as Queen Elizabeth II, it’s immediately obvious who comes from a musical theatre background and who does not.
The group numbers are packed with energy and blended vocals, but in the solo spotlight, only Rosé, Divina, and Kitty truly shine. Courtney Act handles their parts comfortably in a lower register, while Priyanka brings great charisma, especially during rap segments, though neither delivers the same vocal impact as the rest of the cast. Divina and Kitty also bring their natural comedic timing to their portrayal of the Princess, making every Diana on stage a little bit different from each other.
Costume designer River Smith clearly understands the show’s vision: a standout moment comes when each Diana steps on stage in a unique take on the iconic 'Revenge Dress', each one equally stunning and commanding in its own right.
Unfortunately, though, technical problems definitely drag the production down. A duet between Diana (Courtney Act) and Charles is nearly lost due to poor sound mixing, with Courtney’s voice barely audible. Later, Keala Settle’s vocals are slightly off-beat, absolutely not due to lack of skill, but a clear monitoring issue. Lighting design (by Toby P. Darvill) also misses key moments, most notably during a touching scene where Rosé sings “Angel of My Dreams” (by JADE) as the spotlight awkwardly lights the dancers as they get Rosé dressed in Diana’s iconic wedding gown, undercutting the emotionality of the song.
The venue is also tricky. There's a front seating area, with rows of chairs and tables, and a balcony, but if you're in the standing section at the back, it’s hard to see much unless you’re tall, or in heels.
In conclusion, The Diana Mixtape feels like a drag show that’s been given a massive budget to play with but not enough tools to pull all the strings together. That doesn’t mean that if you love drag, pop music and a bit of royal drama you won’t have a good time. After all, as the cast declares: “Tonight we’re all Diana!”
★★.5
The Diana Mixtape is playing now at HERE at Outernet until the 10th August, before moving to The Lowry, Salford 19th-21st August
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