Drag star Bianca Del Rio will make her West End debut in the musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie. The performer, who goes by Roy Haylock when not parading as a "clown in a gown" (Del Rio's words), is set to take on the role of drag queen and drag shop owner Loco Chanelle/Hugo from May 6 through June 29 at London's Apollo Theatre.
"What better way to return to the musical theatre stage than in a West End production?!" Del Rio said in a statement. "Helen Mirren beat me to playing Queen Elizabeth, so I accepted the role of the next best admired queen, Loco Chanelle."
Haylock has worked extensively in the theatre industry as a costume designer, but has also taken the stage regionally in such shows as Rent, Gypsy, and Cabaret. As Del Rio, the drag performer went on to win the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, tour a series of stand-up specials, and headline two feature films (Hurricane Bianca and its sequel, From Russia With Hate).
She's not the first Drag Race star to appear in the London production. Last year, judge Michelle Visage made her West End debut as Miss Hedge in the musical.
The 2017 musical, based on the 2011 documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, follows a young aspiring drag queen who must overcome prejudice to live out his dreams in the spotlight. The show features a book and lyrics by Tom MacRae and music by Dan Gillespie Sells.Del Rio will join a cast that includes Layton Williams in the title role, along with Faye Tozer, Alex Anstey, Luke Baker, Courtney Bowman, Marlon G Day, Momar Diagne, Zahra Jones, James Gillan, Ryan Hughes, Daniel Jacob, Melissa Jacques, Emily Kenwright, Sejal Keshwala, Luke Latchman, Jordan Laviniere, Rebecca McKinnis, Harriet Payne, Sabrina Sandhu, and Ziggy Tyler Taylor.
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