Big Brother star to play Princess Diana in new musical in theatre debut
The drag queen won Celebrity Big Brother in 2019 after receiving 49 percent of the public vote and is now set to step into the shoes of royalty
Celebrity Big Brother winner Courtney Act is set to make her UK theatre debut in the unexpected role of Princess Diana in a bold new musical. The production, which is called The Diana Mixtape, will have its world premiere at HERE at Outernet in London. It will be running in the English capital from 28 July to 10 August 2025, before transferring to The Lowry in Salford for a week-long run from 19 to 24 August.
The show has been described as a hybrid of concert, biopic and musical. It was created, written, and directed by Christopher D. Clegg, and reimagines the life and legacy of Princess Diana through a soundtrack of modern pop hits.
The songs that will be used to lead the audience through Diana's major milestones were originally performed by artists including Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue. Courtney Act, whose real name is Shane Gilberto Jenek, will be one of five drag performers playing the People's Princess.
Fellow RuPaul's Drag Race alumni Rosé and Priyanka will be joining Courtney on stage as Diana, alongside UK drag favourites Divina De Campo and Kitty Scott-Claus.
Other members of the cast include The Greatest Showman star Keala Settle as Queen Elizabeth II, former Hear'Say singer Noel Sullivan as King Charles III, and Lucinda Lawrence as Queen Camilla.
Courtney first came into the public eye as a finalist on Australian Idol in 2003, and went on to earn more global recognition on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6, where she finished the series as the runner-up.
But it was her 2018 win on Celebrity Big Brother UK with 49 percent of the public vote that made her a British household name.
Courtney made headlines before even stepping foot in the Big Brother house, thanks to a memorable wardrobe malfunction where her skirt fall off during her grand entrance, exposing the drag star's bits. Thankfully, this only boosted her popularity, as Little Mix star Jade dubbed it "iconic".
While on the reality show, Courtney won audiences over with her bubbly personality while advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and also formed a close and slightly flirty friendship with The Apprentice star Andrew Brady.
When asked about their relationship after the Channel 5 show ended, she shared: "The thing I love about Andrew is that he's so comfortable with everything and everyone... not caring about what anyone in the house thinks... I love and respect him. The thing that I really did respect was that we both had that understanding."
After winning Celebrity Big Brother, the drag queen described the experience of coming in top place as "very surreal". She also gushed: "It's amazing to think that the public chose me – I guess it's validation in the things that I believe in."
Now Courtney is prepared to step into the shoes of royalty for the first time, and will be joining the show alongside a creative team led by musical director Matthew Harvey, choreographer Taz Hoesli, costume designer River Smith, and lighting designer Toby P. Darvill. The show's dramaturg is Geri Allen, with wigs by River Medway and video design by Adam Nightingale.
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