REVIEW - THE DIANA MIXTAPE | THE LOWRY | 19/08/2025

The Diana Mixtape – A Riotous, Glittering Celebration of Princess Diana

From the team behind Death Drop comes something bigger, brasher and bolder: The Diana Mixtape. Written and directed by Christopher D. Clegg, this new show takes the life of Princess Diana and retells it through the lens of drag, camp pop anthems and tongue-in-cheek humour. Instead of original music, the story is told via an eclectic playlist of chart hits—from Britney to Beyoncé, Kylie to Lady Gaga—woven together like a chaotic but surprisingly heartfelt mixtape.

On its northern debut at The Lowry, The Diana Mixtape brings five drag queens centre stage—Courtney Act, Divina De Campo, Rosé, Kitty Scott-Claus and Priyanka—all taking turns to embody different sides of Diana. With star support from Noel Sullivan as Prince Charles, Lucinda Lawrence as Camilla and Keala Settle as Queen Elizabeth II, the production is as outrageous as it is ambitious.

The Diana Mixtape takes the audience on a cheeky, fast-paced, and gloriously chaotic tour through Princess Diana’s life. As with any mixtape, it’s less about a tidy narrative and more about capturing a feeling—a dazzling mix of camp, comedy, and heartfelt homage. From her shy beginnings to her whirlwind romance and marriage to Prince Charles, the show playfully nods to the pressures of royal life and meddling from key figures like Camilla and the Queen. It then explores Diana’s evolving public role and personal challenges, balancing outrageous humour with moments of genuine poignancy, especially when her struggles with media intrusion, self-reinvention, and personal freedom are brought to the fore.

The show may not always stick to the history books—something it gleefully acknowledges—but that’s never the point. Instead, it’s a sparkling, audacious love letter to Diana as both a cultural icon and a woman who redefined her own image

The set is minimal yet effective, relying on projections and video design to set scenes and add visual flair, layering graffiti-style captions and royal imagery to underline the satire. River Smith’s costumes are fabulous, ranging from uncanny recreations of Diana’s most iconic looks to camp exaggerations that wink at her legend. The on-stage construction of the wedding dress, projected with footage from the real wedding, is visually stunning. Wig design deserves its own applause, instantly recognisable and hilariously precise.

The choreography, led by Taz Hoesli, is sharp and high-energy, with the ensemble of dancers working overtime as roadies, scene-shifters and comic foils. Lighting, though occasionally plagued by missed cues on opening night, transforms the stage into a kaleidoscope of club colour.

And then there’s the soundtrack: a relentless 90 minutes of pop bangers, each re-purposed to reflect Diana’s life. Britney Spears’ Lucky, Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi, Dua Lipa’s Physical—all make appearances. While the sound mix was occasionally too loud, swallowing some dialogue, the sheer joy of hearing these songs in this context makes for a riotous, earworm-packed experience.

The decision to have five Dianas pays off beautifully. Courtney Act brings star power and poise, Divina De Campo wows with razor-sharp comedy, Priyanka gives high-octane dance brilliance, Kitty Scott-Claus dominates the stage with sass, and Rosé’s vocals add an unexpected emotional depth, particularly in her stunning performance of Angel of My Dreams. Together, they are chaotic, camp and utterly entertaining.

The supporting cast are just as strong. Noel Sullivan leans into the absurdity of Charles, playing him with the perfect mix of gormless and needy. Lucinda Lawrence’s Camilla is wonderfully realised—full of villainous glamour, sharp humour and excellent vocals. She and Sullivan share great chemistry, bouncing off each other with comic precision. Keala Settle as Queen Elizabeth is a revelation—her voice soaring, her presence commanding, her comedic timing razor sharp. The dancers (Ashton Bradley, Henry Chatfield, Jordan Jewell, Theo Simpson and Leo Udvarlaky) deserve a huge shout-out for bringing constant energy.

The Diana Mixtape is camp, chaotic and gloriously over the top. It may not be the most polished show you’ll ever see—sound issues and a few technical hiccups did distract—but it makes up for that in sheer entertainment value. Equal parts karaoke party, drag club night and musical parody, it celebrates Diana with both cheek and genuine affection.

It’s a glitter-bomb of a night out, filled with pop classics, outrageous humour and a dash of unexpected emotion. If they can iron out the sound and pacing, The Diana Mixtape has all the makings of a cult favourite.

"When you mix Princess Diana with drag queens and a killer playlist, you get a right royal night of camp fun fit for a queen"

The Diana Mixtape is at The Lowry until Thursday 21st August 2025. Tickets are available for purchase through the link provided below.

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If you would like more information about the show, please click the button below to visit the show's official website.

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*Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review.