<
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jun/18/queer-doctor-who-cabaret-dancing-drag-daleks-gallifrey-cabaret>
"The atmosphere backstage at the
Doctor Who-themed queer, adults-only cabaret
night is every bit as chaotic as you might imagine. Hairspray clouds air
already thick with overlapping conversations between drag kings and queens,
singers and burlesque artists. In its midst, Reece Connolly adjusts his ruffled
shirt and rhinestoned bow tie, and turns to his fellow performers. “This is a
genuine question: do you think these are too tight?” he asks, gesturing to his
black trousers. “No, they’re hot,” replies cabaret all-rounder Mariana Trench.
The other acts agree, encouraging Connolly to “give [the audience] what they
want”. He nods, and looks to me with mock sincerity: “This is community. This
is what community looks like.”
Being a fly-on-the-dressing-room-wall backstage at the Wales Millennium Centre
is a heady, exhilarating and slightly overwhelming experience. But for the
stars of
Gallifrey Cabaret, this scene of “gorgeous chaos” (as red-headed,
red-moustached drag queen Carrot describes it) is business as usual. The show,
which tours the UK with a mixed bill of drag, burlesque, live music, comedy,
aerial performance and dance, is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month
with an extra-special extravaganza at the Clapham Grand in London, and keeps
getting bigger and better. Even fire acts and a dog have been given the Time
Lord twist – albeit not at the same time.
Anyone with the slightest interest in
Doctor Who will know that the show has
had quite a week. After weeks of whispers, an official announcement came last
Wednesday: showrunner Russell T Davies and production company Bad Wolf are out,
with the BBC cancelling the 2026 Christmas special and putting the franchise
out to tender.
Doctor Who is entering an undefined hiatus period. When it
will next materialise remains unclear.
But on this April night in Cardiff, where the glittering “LGBTQ+ARDIS” has
docked in the Millennium Centre’s cabaret space for a sold-out, three-night
residency, fans have no idea of what’s to come. They arrive in throngs,
excitable as ever – Cardiff, as the home of contemporary
Doctor Who, is a
popular destination among Whovians.
But it’s
Gallifrey Cabaret’s social media presence – particularly on TikTok –
that has allowed the team to reach their desired crowd of nostalgia-obsessed
millennials and
Doctor Who’s powerful and expansive queer fanbase. The gay
sex jokes at this unofficial tribute night will be off-putting to some, but
drag performer So Faux says that they’re simply embracing
Doctor Who’s
“inherently queer” side. For all its 18+ content, this is a space where
everyone is welcome, Connolly tells the crowd in his opening monologue … “as
long as you’re not a cunt.” Or, for that matter, a child."
Via Susan ****
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
