Queenz: Drag Me To The Disco
Invited| Review by Robyn Watson
The Queenz are back once again after their smash hit tour ready to take us to the DISCO! Last time I saw these incredibly talented divas I left knowing I just had to go and see them again. They are hands down one of the most talented, eclectic groups I have ever seen. I have to say, I think this show is even bigger and bolder than the last!
The cast returned with 4 out of 5 of the same Queenz with the addition of Bella Du Ball being played by the wonderful Grant J Jackson. The returning Queenz were Jon Hands as ZeZe, Craig Colley as Billie Eyelash, Mark McCreedie as Dior Monte and Joshua Pearson as Candy Caned. All of the performers have their own unique stances and skills to create the perfect team and they all compliment each other perfectly.
Tyne Theatre and Opera House, as always, was the perfect setting for this show. I loved their new bar area which really utilises that downstairs space. The crowd was filled with an array of fabulous outfits with sequins and glitter ready for an amazing evening of entertainment.
The Queenz burst onto the stage with their version of Can You Feel It? straight into I’m Coming Out. This got us ready for a party within the first five minutes of the show. The thing to honourably mention about this show is the way they can mash together medleys so effortlessly. There has clearly been some tireless work with selecting songs and making sure the show flows effectively and it has really paid off.
The use of costuming throughout was terrific. Bedazzled with a sea of shimmering rhinestones, feathers and tulle the Queenz looked nothing short of mesmerising. I adored their own signature colours as well which matched their character perfectly. Billie Eyelash’s iconic green is used so well throughout and her make up is always sheer perfection. A huge bravo to the costuming team who clearly know a thing or two about making an outfit pop on the stage. My favourite costumes had to be during the finale, even though Zeze took a tumble on her tulle skirt!
As any great drag show should be, they were not shy about picking on the audience. Our lovely guests to be roasted that evening were work friends Rach and Rich. Rich definitely got the better end of the deal being donned Newcastle’s very own John Travolta. Poor Rach was given the title of a Temu looking tart however! I think you come to expect this in a drag show and basically, if you can’t take the heat don’t go! Andy was another great sport in the crowd. In the second half there was some iconic audience participation from the two men including some impressive dance moves in the dance off! Such great fun!
The Queenz then took on the main bulk of the first half which was a throwback to some absolute icons. Zeze gave incredible energy with her Cher performance. We then travelled through the icons of Diana Ross, Lulu and Tina Turner. Belle Du Ball’s rendition of River Deep, Mountain High was a particular highlight for me. She has one of the best vocal ranges I have ever heard on stage and it is definitely a performance I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Mesmerising!
Their Madonna Vogue including great choreography and I loved that they changed the lyrics to honour the great divas of this world such as Adele, Ariana, Gemma Collins and the late but great Lily Savage. To bring Act One to a close, they honoured the amazing movies of the Silver Screen and jam packed so many iconic moments into this segment. The wonderful Jase delivered true iconic behaviour, stealing his spotlight, as the pianist Alfonso. It was great to see him perform more this time as in the last show we got to see his amazing dance skills, but wow, that voice is absolutely amazing too!
We were transported to Charlie and the Chocolate factory with Pure Imagination, straight into Wizard of Oz, The Greatest Showman, The Bodyguard and Frozen with some hilarious cameo scenes from ET, Titanic, Ghostbusters, Star Wars and even The Lion King! It really was a whirlwind. Candy Caned’s version of 8 Mile was incredible- what a rapstress! This first half really was jam packed with high quality entertainment.
I was so excited when they began Act Two with their own rendition of my all time favourite song, Bohemian Rhapsody. Their choreography and head movements were so in sync throughout this number. During the Second Half, we got to see so much of the Queenz personalities and it was so refreshing to see them actually just having a great time. Dior Monte actually broke down laughing at one point at Billie and this had the audience in floods of laughter. I love those raw moments of theatre where actually things might not go as planned!
Nearing the end of the show, Jase returned to the stage with his decks, plummeting the stage into darkness ready for the ultimate party. The Queenz performed their hearts out in this next section and encouraged everyone to get on their feet for a boogie! From the iconic Everybody Dance Now, through to the 90s Dance hits such as Rhythm is a Dancer and Show Me Love the girls gave such high energy and picked up the pace even more. The routines they were performing just looked effortless to them. Hard work goes a long way and it paid off! The party hits continued with Vengaboys, Barbie Girl, Sexy and I Know it and We Found Love. Truly a song for every single person in the room packed in there!
For our penultimate performance of the evening, the Queenz delivered a very empowering and sincere message about self love and acceptance. They performed their incredible anthem True Colours with a twist adding Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful in with it. What stunning live vocals. It was genuine, raw and utterly moving as their childhood photos flashed behind them on screen. Their voices blend so perfectly together and the harmonies were on point.
We ended the evening with a dance party to their finale of some iconic Disco hits and finally I Wanna Dance with Somebody.
These Queenz certainly know how to entertain a crowd. I urge you to go and see this show and can guarantee you will be blown away by their high energy choreography, hilarious audience participation and some of the best live vocals theatre has to offer! What an evening! I already cannot wait for the next tour!