GLITZ, GLAM AND A WHOLE LOT OF CAMP

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Drag Queens. Cabaret. Over the top costumes. A soundtrack of songs I can sing along to… All things I love, which meant there was a high chance I was going to love The Lady Boys of Bangkok: Full Moon. Spoiler: I was right! We laughed, we sang, we cheered, we danced (enthusiastically from our seats, I might add), and I left wondering why I’d never seen them before.

The show takes place inside the iconic giant pink Sabai Pavilion on Shepherd’s Bush Green. Pink tent? Say less, I was already obsessed. Inside, there’s a bar, a food stand and plenty of photo opportunities. Golden statues, neon signs, themed backdrops, and more. Naturally, we made the most of it before grabbing a drink. Bonus points for serving them in bright pink Lady Boys of Bangkok cups. If you’re committing to the theme, you may as well fully commit.

A MOMENT FOR THE COSTUMES PLEASE?!

Before I even get onto the performances themselves, we need to talk about the costumes because honestly… WOW. There were metallic space-inspired outfits, huge feathered headpieces, glamorous gowns, corsets and sparkling bikini sets absolutely dripping in diamantes. Carnival-inspired costumes, PVC, fluffy leg warmers, hip-hop looks and enough sequins to blind you if the lights hit at the wrong angle. There was just so much variety, and every single costume looked like an event in itself. If sparkle was an Olympic sport, they would be taking home the gold.

The venue itself is also much more intimate than I’d expected. We were sat near the front, but thanks to the layout I don’t think there’s a bad seat in the house. Alongside the main stage, there’s also a raised platform right through the middle of the audience, so performers regularly pop up much closer to everyone sitting further back. It stops the show ever feeling distant and means you’re constantly turning around thinking, “Wait… they’re over there now!”

90 MINUTES OF CAMP CHAOS, POP ANTHEMS AND PURE ESCAPISM

If you’re going along expecting a big theatrical storyline with emotional plot twists and a neatly wrapped-up ending… I think you booked the wrong show, babes. The show knows exactly what it is. It’s 90 minutes of unapologetic fun, brilliant performances, huge dance numbers, outrageous costumes, comedy and songs everyone can get involved with. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want from a night out.

The soundtrack had us singing along for most of the evening. There were one or two songs that completely passed me by (my bad), but for the most part, it felt like hit after hit. From Beat It and Proud Mary to Dancing Queen, One Night Only and even the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme tune, it was impossible not to get caught up in it all. I spent a good portion of the evening attempting to mouth the words rather than fully belt them out… although I don’t think anyone would’ve minded if I had.

The performances themselves are a mix of lip syncs, dance routines and comedy sketches, all delivered with a huge amount of personality. At one point, I actually wondered whether someone was singing live… right until they missed literally half a beat and I thought “Nope, there’s the track!”. Honestly, though, it made absolutely no difference to my enjoyment because that’s not why you’re there. You’re there for the spectacle, the glamour and the sheer entertainment of it all.

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE LAP DANCE, SHALL WE?

One of my favourite things about the evening was how much the audience became part of the experience. There are plenty of moments where everyone is encouraged to clap along, sing, cheer and generally get involved, with a few audience members even finding themselves up on stage. Or, in my friend Sam’s case… receiving a lap dance and a cheeky peck from the drag queen. We were absolutely crying with laughter. I won’t be forgetting that anytime soon.

Now, I know audience participation isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. If the thought of being picked out by a performer fills you with absolute dread, maybe avoid sitting right at the front, but it all felt really playful and good-natured. If anything, it just added to the atmosphere because nobody was taking themselves too seriously. And really, if you’re booking tickets to The Lady Boys of Bangkok and expecting everyone to politely sit with their hands folded in silence… I think you might be missing the point a little.

Something I really loved was that the whole show just embraces being completely and unapologetically camp. Nobody is pretending it’s anything other than a fabulous evening full of music, dancing, comedy and glitter. It never tries too hard to be clever or overly theatrical. Instead, it simply celebrates performance, self-expression and having a ridiculously good time, and I think that’s exactly why it works so well.

PREPARE TO LEAVE WANTING A WARDROBE FULL OF SEQUINS AND MORE CABARET

Now, obvs I said earlier, I’d never actually seen The Lady Boys of Bangkok. Like a lot of people, I’d only ever really heard the stereotypes over the years and genuinely didn’t know what to expect. In my head, I’d built up something much more risqué. Yes, it’s cheeky in places. Yes, there’s innuendo. Yes, Sam got a lap dance. But the overwhelming feeling is just one of fun. It’s glamorous, funny, inclusive and doesn’t take itself too seriously for a second.

If you’re looking for a night out that’s a bit different, love drag, cabaret or just fancy escaping reality for a couple of hours surrounded by glitter, feathers and pop anthems, I’d happily recommend The Lady Boys of Bangkok: Full Moon. We laughed from start to finish; the costumes alone are worth the ticket price, and it’s impossible not to get caught up in the energy of it all. Just don’t blame me if you leave wanting a wardrobe entirely made of sequins… because honestly, same.

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