International drag queen and RuPaul's Drag Race star Vinegar Strokes will play Lady Bracknell in a new production of Oscar Wilde's comic masterpiece at Leeds Playhouse (September 5-17).
Mixing Wilde’s wit with chart-toppers and contemporary references, this co-production from the Playhouse, English Touring Theatre and Rose Theatre will offer a unique new look for this classic satire of dysfunctional families, class, gender and sexuality.
Daniel Jacob – aka Vinegar Strokes – has gained international recognition as his drag queen alter ego through appearances on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, EastEnders, Dinner With My Ex and Drag Karaoke Club. He also has a long list of theatre credits, including Death Drop, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Bugsy Malone and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
The casting features young talent in major roles: Phoebe Campbell – later this month to appear in the Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon on HBO – makes her stage debut as Cecily after a handful of TV roles, and Abiola Owokoniran, who plays Algernon Moncrieff, will also make his professional debut.
Among the more experienced cast, Adele James is Gwendolen, Joanne Henry plays Miss Prism and Justice Ritchie is John Worthing. The director is Denzel Westley-Sanderson (for more, see here) .
After Leeds the production will have a UK tour that includes Liverpool Playhouse (October 11-15).
More info here