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Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens

 
James Macfarlane Review by James Macfarlane 4 Published: 15 Jan 2025 22 Queen Margaret Union, University Gardens Show Dates: 9 Jan 2025-9 Jan 2025

It’s adult pantomime season again – oh no it’s not! - and with it comes a selection of x-rated jokes, filthy humour and songs a-plenty. This year’s offering from The North East Adult Pantomime, the first adult panto I’ve ever attended, is Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens.

A selection of x-rated jokes, filthy humour and songs a-plenty

The QMU in Glasgow is a strange venue choice (memories of my Freshers’ Week came flooding back). The stage isn’t that big and could barely hold the seven drag queen performers during their opening number – a parody of Ex-Wives from the musical Six. Even so, it’s a great start to the show that had us in stiches, hearing from drag queens with stage names such as Janice Dickinyourson, Dixie Swallows and Orphelia Balls.

Deborah Taylor-Smith filled in for an unwell Scarlett Moffatt as The Wicked Queen, Snow White’s step-mother, with a brilliant performance. "How wicked is she?" I hear you ask. During an onstage conversation when Snow White asked another character why they disliked The Wicked Queen, an audience member shouted out, “Because she’s a cunt!” Ah, Glasgow, never change.

But it’s Celebrity Big Brother Winner David Potts who is the stand out, delivering a fabulously camp, scene-stealing performance as The Wicked Queen’s henchman. Dressed all in black with a tan that would make Donald Trump envious, Potts commands the stage and struts around cracking his whip and screaming obscenities at other characters. It’s just hilarious.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK superstars Michael Marouli and Tomara Thomas are also highlights of the evening. Their chemistry onstage together is impeccable, especially during a scene baking a cake with a man from Amazon (cue every ‘big package’ joke here). It’s clear that they’re true professionals in every sense of the word.

I didn’t quite know what to expect from Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens. The drag community as a whole has just lost a stalwart in the world of British drag – The Vivienne. Because of this, part of me expected this evening to be a more sombre affair than it was. But it was the complete opposite. It was escapism for a few hours. Drag queens came together to do what they do best – perform and entertain. A world without drag would be a less exciting and less joyful world. Hearing the reaction of other audience members on the way out, it seems happiness was radiating throughout the building.

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The Blurb:

Locked inside her magic chamber, an Evil Queen keeps a watchful eye over her beautiful stepdaughter Snow White who has just turned eighteen. When the Queen’s faithful mucky-mouthed Mirro, informs her she no longer is the fairest of them all, she concocts her malevolent plan - to take Snow White deep into the Doggers' Wood, and make sure she is never seen again.

Snow White escapes, and stumbles upon a Cottage, where she is kidnapped by a gang of girls that time forgot - not the Spice Girls - but seven fabulous Drag Queens - Itchy, Bitchy, Tipsy, Tiny, Horny, Windy and Pot. They decide to adopt her and make her their new drag project. 

Their party is interrupted when a knock at the door reveals a mysterious lost hag. Will they buy something from her Avon catalogue or can she persuade Snow White to try an apple shot - it is her birthday after all? Snow White and her Drag sisters overindulge and soon find themselves trapped in a deathly sleep. Will the Wicked Queen get to wear her crown forever or has she overlooked the wandering Prince Albert who is looking for his own happy ending in the woods?

With fabulous costumes, stunning effects and a soundtrack camper than Elton John in a boob tube at Christmas, save the date for this unmissable fabulously filthy night out!