Tramshed, Cardiff
Tuesday 29 March
Where to start when writing a review about a show like this?
I was excited about this event on two fronts. Firstly getting to see a show that Cardiff has been baying for, for such a long time, and secondly getting my first glimpse of the brand new Tramshed.
Both delivered on the night but I’ll start with the show – a second sell out of a live production inspired by a popular TV franchise which saw hundreds queue in the rain on the night to get in for a standing room only concert.
Images of the show’s stars, a group of massively talented drag queens, greeted us -projections on a huge multimedia screen serving to psyche up the audience pre-show. Indeed this incredible screen would become a feature of the night displaying stunning videos and huge backdrops throughout, dwarfed only by the personalities on show.
So who are we talking about? For the uninitiated RuPaul’s Drag Race is a reality television show that brings together a group of drag queens each season to compete for the title of the next Drag Superstar. Combining elements of America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway, the show has surpassed cult status and has strutted its way into mainstream culture.
And we didn’t have to wait long to see all of the stars in action. In a big opening number involving all of the drag queens, we were treated to a parody of Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid – the crowd almost gagging on their eleganza from the outset.
A welcome speech from host Michelle Visage followed, saying she loved Wales (we love her too) – a fan of Gavin and Stacey and The Valleys because in her words “I love me some Lateysha”. She also reminded everyone that this was a 14+ evening quipping if any 14 year-olds were in attendance –“Your moms are really bad mothers”.
Each queen was given her own slot to dazzle. And didn’t they just. Introduced with a montage of clips and images from Ru Paul’s Drag Race the videos (and this amazing screen) worked very well putting X Factor intros to shame.
Whilst it all cantered along at break-neck speed (Adore’s powerhouse vocals, Courtney’s high energy Kylie-esque musicality, Violet Chachki’s seductive striptease and Pandora Boxx’s comedy gold routine) a particular highlight for me was when they finally paused to take a breath and Season 4 winner, Sharon Needles, took to the stage for a poignant tribute to the late David Bowie. Her rendition of Ground Control to Major Tom brought sincere emotion to proceedings.
Undoubtedly the audience’s favourite part of the night was the live version of the much-loved ‘Snatch Game’ (a spoof of the game show Blankety Blank). Here we saw some of the queens give scandalous impersonations of Caitlyn Jenner reminding us “We girls gotta stick together”. A robotic Hilary Clinton made an appearance as did what can only be described as a hilarious and vulgar Cockney Queen Elizabeth, portrayed by Jinkx Monsoon, taunting Michelle Visage by calling her ‘a Vegan c*nt’. The place erupted.
If one segment summed up the sheer jaw-dropping extravagance and insanity of the evening then it was Season 7’s Miss Congeniality Katya who performed a lip-sync to My Heart Will Go On (in Russian no less) whilst dressed as the Titanic. All this set to a back drop of images of capsized and sinking ships, drowning passengers and Kate Winslet and Leonardo Di Caprio. I kid you not.
In truth, such was the magnitude and quantity of material in this unique and exceptional event, I too could go on but the last word must go to the Tramshed itself – a gorgeous new venue in the heart of Cardiff that has more than cemented its place on the cultural map of our capital. Like the unplanned encore that the crowd screamed for at the end (I have honestly never heard anything like it) I too must scream for more of the same please from the Tramshed.
Words: Jack Barker