Produced by Murray & Peter, the team behind popular Drag Race tour Werq The World, Haters Roast: The Shady Tour features a rotating lineup of drag queens from the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise. Their brand of comedy involves roasting each other and the audience in a hilarious, often brutal manner.

This time around in Cardiff’s St. David’s Hall, Drag Race UK season 1 winner The Vivienne took the reins as host, joined by a whopping lineup: another UK season 1 star, Baga Chipz, and Lawrence Chaney, winner of the UK’s second season; Heidi N Closet and Kandy Muse, from Drag Race season 12 and 13 respectively; Drag Race All Stars 4 winner Trinity The Tuck; the infamously disqualified Willam; NYC’s Miz Cracker and Canadian fan favourite Jimbo. Each of the queens bring their own unique brand of humour and personality to the stage, pulling no punches along the way, and the penultimate leg of the tour stops off in Cardiff for a Saturday night of laughter with a side of facepalming.

The Vivienne starts matters off by announcing that if anyone in the audience was easily offended or “woke”, to suck it up: the night would not be for them. Political incorrectness, filth, spilled tea and wig snatching followed accordingly, and when audience members got a bit rowdy and started heckling, instead of getting flustered or angry the queens – being queens – fired back with customary quick wit and shade. Why else would they be up onstage?

After a short interval, the Haters Roast personnel returned in still more fabulous outfits and wigs: it’s clear a lot of thought and effort had gone into these looks, which really added to the overall experience and spectacle of the show. Ultimately, there were a few standouts among the cast. Lawrence Chaney had the audience in stitches with her razor-sharp wit and one-liners, while Jimbo’s unconventional style (big boobs), and infectious energy were a hit with everyone in attendance. And – of course – The Vivienne was an excellent host, keeping the show running smoothly and throwing in jokes of her own throughout the evening, ending with a hilarious set to finish the show.

Haters Roast, St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Sat 8 Apr

words + photos JOHN EVANS