Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens – O2 City Hall Newcastle

Writer/Director: David Ducasse

Adult pantomimes are obviously not everyone’s cup of tea – the website and the announcements before the show clearly state the language, innuendo and references that will be used, so that everyone in the room knows exactly what they can expect – they are not for anyone who is easily offended. That being said, Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens was fairly mild, with an abundance of swearing and a few rude jokes, but nothing too risqué really. The pull here is the drag queens rather than the smut. It is a chance for fans to meet the stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (in a literal meet and greet before the show) and to see them ‘werk’ the stage in a daft and sometimes incomprehensible panto-style show.

Those expecting to see Scarlett Moffatt will be disappointed – an announcement minutes before the show informed the audience that due to illness she would not be appearing. It turns out, according to press reports, that she withdrew from the show weeks ago, before rehearsals even began, though she is still on all publicity. No matter, as Deborah Taylor-Smith steps ably into the role of The Wicked Queen, singing well and throwing herself into the role with the requisite malice.

Anyone going to see television personality David Potts will not be let down; he lights up the stage in every scene he is in with both wit and comic timing as Dirty David, The Queen’s Underling. One highlight in particular is during Prince Albert’s song (sung perfectly by Danny Emmerson-Ducasse) about being ‘all alone’, where Potts and the energetic Corey Clarke (Puddles the Jester) interject more and more dramatically as the song builds – it’s classic panto and it works brilliantly.

Now to the Drag Queens, all seven of them. A mixed bag, it is fair to say, with Drag Race UK superstars Michael Marouli and Tomara Thomas hitting all the right notes, dancing to the beat and serving ‘top notch professional’ throughout. Another excellent all-rounder who had her own solo was Janice Dickinyourson, singing a very funny version of Popular from Wicked. Her timing was excellent and the panto was in safe hands when any of these three were around.

This unfortunately couldn’t be said for the rest of the Drag Queens who ranged from a little wooden to mediocre at best. Missed cues, forgotten or bungled lines and a lot of standing around not remembering to lip synch or missing dance moves occurred throughout. The seven dwarves would have been better as three or four, and it would have lost nothing in terms of script as the lines are dished out in such a random way that it is often difficult to follow what is going on anyway.

The second half is infinitely better than the first half, as there are more panto style skits where Marouli, Thomas and the others could ad lib a bit more and seemed a lot more comfortable. It may also have been nerves that contributed to the first half feeling a little chaotic – Clarke had a difficult time with a water gag that didn’t work, the fabulous Tess Tickle playing the Magic Mirror didn’t get a proper entrance at one point and there were a few blank looks at each other while cast members tried to remember what came next.

There are moments of hilarity, some clever jokes, but it lacked the quick fire, witty roasting and clapbacks that audiences have come to expect of anything involving drag queens. This is down to the writing and directing by David Ducasse – it doesn’t give them enough to play with, more’s the pity.

The ensemble were excellent, as was Snow White (Amelia Cavagan) who really kept the show going – and an unexpected star of the show was the Amazon Delivery Man played by Jonny Larman, with a cheeky sparkle in his eye and a knowing smile, he was the perfect straight man to the Drag Queens’ comedy.

If you want a fun night out, pop down. If you are expecting a really good panto, or even to see the Drag Queens truly shine as their best selves, maybe give this one a miss and go and see them in their own shows.

Reviewed on 5th January 2025.