The night Freddie Mercury and Kenny Everett smuggled Princess Diana into an iconic gay venue is the stuff of legend. Opening tonight, Royal Vaxhaull is a new musical by Desmond O’Connor that brings life to the events staged in the place it actually happened.
Royal Vaxhaull is getting its world premiere in the RVT itself.
It’s 1988 and queer London is partying hard under the spectre of AIDS, the scrutiny of the press and the shadow of Clause 28. When Princess Diana dreams of a wild night out away from the long lenses of the paparazzi and the ruthless Royals at the Palace, best buddies Freddie Mercury and Kenny Everett know there is only one place to take her: the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
The only trouble is: how the hell are they going to get one of the most famous faces in the world through the door without blowing her cover?
Royal Vaxhaull is getting its world premiere in the RVT itself. Created by Desmond O’Connor (Failed States, Scott Mills The Musical), directed by Russell Lucas and starring Sarah-Louise Young, Reuben R Kaye and Stuart Saint, the show opens tonight and plays three further dates – 18th, 24th and 25th February.