Tag Archives: Rose

THE DIANA MIXTAPE

★★★★★

Here at Outernet

ReviewsAshton Bradley, Beatrice Morandi, Christopher D Clegg, Courtney Act, Divina De Campo, Harry Elletson, Henry Chatfield, HERE at Outernet, Jordan Jewel, Keala Settle, Kitty Scott Claus, Leo Udvarlaky, Lucinda Lawrence, Noel Sullivan, Priyanka, River Smith, Rose, Taz Hoesli, THE DIANA MIXTAPE, Theo Simpson, TuckShop, Walport Productionsthespyinthestalls

THE DIANA MIXTAPE

Here at Outernet

★★★★★

“Bold, brilliant, and bursting with love”

What do you get when you mix pop music, drag royalty, and one of the most beloved figures in modern history? You get The Diana Mixtape musical, a joyful, high-energy, and heartwarming show that completely blew the roof off! This isn’t just a musical. It’s a full-on party, a tribute, and a celebration rolled into one fabulous, glitter-filled night.

Telling the story of Princess Diana like you’ve never seen it before, the show turns her life into a gig of a lifetime. With iconic music originally performed by Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue, Ariana Grande, and more, the soundtrack is pure pop perfection. The songs fit Diana’s journey so well, blending fun, emotion, and strength in every beat. You’ll laugh, you might cry, but most of all, you’ll be dancing in your seat.

In a brilliant and bold twist, Diana is played not by one actor, but five drag superstars: Courtney Act, Divina De Campo, Kitty Scott-Claus, Rosé, and Priyanka. Each brings their own sparkle, wit, and charm to the role, showing different sides of the People’s Princess. They aren’t imitations, they’re tributes, each full of love, power, and sass. Watching these performers own the stage is nothing short of magic.

And then there’s Keala Settle as Queen Elizabeth II, and what an entrance she makes! Best known for her powerhouse voice in The Greatest Showman, Settle brings the house down with her performance. She’s commanding, hilarious, and totally unforgettable, delivering both comedy and class with ease. Her scenes light up the stage, and her presence is simply outstanding.

Noel Sullivan is a fantastic Prince Charles, balancing charm and awkwardness perfectly, while Lucinda Lawrence brings a cool confidence to Camilla. The dancers, Ashton Bradley, Henry Chatfield, Jordan Jewell, Theo Simpson, and Leo Udvarlaky, keep the energy sky-high with fierce moves and flawless timing.

Behind the scenes, the show is just as strong. Directed and created by Christopher D. Clegg, every detail is polished to perfection. Costumes by River Smith bring back Diana’s most iconic looks with a glamorous twist. Choreography by Taz Hoesli is sharp, clever, and full of attitude. The wigs, the lighting, the video design, everything works together to create an unforgettable atmosphere.

But beyond the glitter and laughs, there’s real heart in this show. It’s a beautiful tribute to Diana’s legacy, her kindness, her strength, and the way she made people feel seen and loved. The Diana Mixtape is full of fun, but it’s also full of meaning. It reminds us why Diana is still adored by millions.

If you love pop music, drag, theatre, or just want to feel good for 90 minutes straight, this show is a must-see. Bold, brilliant, and bursting with love, The Diana Mixtape is a royal triumph. Long live the Queen of Hearts!

THE DIANA MIXTAPE

Here at Outernet

Reviewed on 31st July 2025

by Beatrice Morandi

Photography by Harry Elletson

Previously reviewed at this venue:

PRISCILLA THE PARTY! | ★★★★★ | March 2024

THE DIANA MIXTAPE

THE DIANA MIXTAPE

THE DIANA MIXTAPE

Rose

★★★★

Ambassadors Theatre

ReviewsAmbassadors Theatre, David Shields, Jane Lalljee, Julian Star, Julian Starr, Martin Sherman, Maureen Lipman, Pamela Raith, Phillip Money, Rose, Scott le Crassthespyinthestalls

ROSE at the Ambassadors Theatre

★★★★

“Lipman gives an exemplary performance in control and poise”

Maureen Lipman shows herself to be a consummate storyteller in Martin Sherman’s epic turn of the millennium one-woman play. Directed by Scott Le Crass, Lipman sits almost unmoving for two and a half hours as she relates the life-story of Rose, an eighty-year-old Jewish survivor of the previous century’s turmoil.

Rose sits purposefully on a wooden bench, centre stage, observing shiva; for whom we do not initially know. With a minimal set (Designer David Shields), two walls meet behind where she sits. Understated light changes – red, purple, lilac (Lighting Designer Jane Lalljee) and subtle background music and sound effects – music from an accordion, train noise, flames of the burning Warsaw ghetto, the soft thud of a rifle shot (Sound Designer and Composer Julian Starr) – reflect and illustrate Rose’s recollections.

Rose chats to us, mixing the prosaic with the sensational. For Lipman, it is a great feat of concentration and stamina. For the audience too there is a lot to listen to; every word seems important.

Rose’s remarkable story takes her from a pogrom in her native Ukraine, to the Warsaw ghetto, into Germany, and onto a barely seaworthy ship heading for Palestine pursued by the British Navy. Along the way she recounts her loves and losses including that of her first husband and the shooting of her only daughter. Finally escaping a refugee train heading to ‘nowhere’ in Europe, Rose enters America.

Rose admits herself to being an unreliable narrator. Does her recollection of Cossacks ransacking the family home come from a real childhood memory or a scene from Fiddler on the Roof? Despite the deep subject, there is much humour in the telling. Some comments are genuinely funny, some poignant, some ironic. And when Lipman lands a joke her eyes twinkle and a wry smile shares the humour with the audience. Only once does Lipman raise her voice above the conversational and the scene is the most impactful for that.

It is no wonder that the second half of the play cannot keep up with the pace as Rose embarks on a new life in America with husband number two, who himself cannot live up to the memories of lost husband number one. Perhaps one domestic story here is a trifle long and some direction in the narrative is lost. Until, that is, members of Rose’s family become involved in hostilities on the West Bank which stir up feelings in Rose that her life has been one long conflict. And thus her need to sit shiva. And to share her story.

Maureen Lipman gives an exemplary performance in control and poise. There are no histrionics, her power lies in her natural timing, use of silence, and her ability to hold the audience to her every word and every breath. A masterclass in acting.

Reviewed on 26th May 2023

by Phillip Money

Photography by Pamela Raith

Previously reviewed at this venue:

Cock | ★★★ | March 2022

Mad House | ★★★★★ | June 2022

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