Divina De Campo to star in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Leeds Playhouse in 2022

Words: Alastair James; pictures: Provided

Brighouse’s finest export and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series one queen, the incomparable Divina De Campo, is taking on the iconic role of Hedwig in the rock-musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, when it comes to the Leeds Playhouse in April.

The theatre has announced its spring/summer season today (Wednesday 1 December) which also features Shakespeare’s equally iconic tragedy, Macbeth, as well as new and original works.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, created by Stephen Trask and John Cameron Mitchell, tells the story of a genderqueer performer following a botched gender reassignment surgery as they confront binary norms, set to a roaring punk-rock soundtrack.

“It’s a very timely story”

The show hasn’t been seen on a mainstage in the UK for 15 years, mostly being performed at festivals and fringe events since 2006.

On bringing the cult classic to Yorkshire, director Jamie Fletcher says she’s “really excited to be bringing to life this iconic rock musical with other queer, trans, and non-binary creatives. I can’t wait for audiences to see a powerful genderqueer character leading the show with humour and ferocity accompanied by an awesome live band.”

She adds, “it’s a very timely story for anyone who’s ever felt different, for anyone who has felt they’ve had to hide a part of themselves or felt they’ve had to look or behave in a certain way in order to be accepted.”

Speaking exclusively to Attitude ahead of the announcement Divina, real name Owen Farrow, tells us how exciting it is – having watched other people (often straight cisgender men) play the role – to get to have a go as a non-binary performer. Divina uses she/her pronouns.

“I was introduced to Hedwig 20 years ago when the DVD was in Blockbuster. I’ve been watching other people play the role and thinking, ‘You know what, I know that I could do this and I think I can do it as well… or better!’ she explains.

“As a non-binary person who is trying to make their way through a cisgender world, you already grapple with a lot of those ideas that happen in the show and are able to bring a deeper understanding to it.”

The show is really a marathon; 90 minutes, no interval, and Hedwig barely gets a breather. Did Divina, fresh from a stint as Mary Sunshine in stage smash Chicago, have any doubts about taking on the role, her first lead in such a production?

“Definitely. [In Chicago] I’m on stage for 15 minutes in total. Here, you’re on stage for 90 minutes and you’re the only driving force behind the show. It’s a big ask of anybody eight shows a week.”

Talking about the complex character that is Hedwig, Divina describes her as an anti-hero you can’t help but like, adding, “She’s very charismatic. She’s very charming, but she’s also damaged. And she reflects that onto the people around her rather than internalising it. She’s quite a gregarious character.”

It’s a peach of a part, but one that people have very firm ideas about. You only have to look as far back as 2020 at the backlash an Australian production received for casting a cisgender actor – Hugh Sheridan – over a trans artist. Hugh later came out as non-binary.

Divina reveals these ideas will be explored in the latest revival; they’re going right back to the beginning and building the character from the ground up. She, personally, sees Hedwig as “more of a they”; someone who is genderqueer, forced into things that weren’t necessarily right for them.

For reference, the show’s creators have said the role is for anyone and not specifically trans.

“It’s so much fun”

Written and initially performed in the nineties, Hedwig‘s return is perfectly timed. “It [the show] was ahead of its time,” notes Davina, reflecting on its themes of identity and living outside the gender binary.

“For me, it’s very much that thing about forcing somebody to be something that they’re not. That’s what’s happened to Hedwig. That’s why they’re damaged. They’ve been forced into this role, that actually isn’t true to them.”

But she’s keen to point out that while there are complex issues, there’s a lot of heart to it.

“The script is packed full of really brilliant, witty one-liners. It’s so much fun. And then some of the music makes you want to dance and then some of it pulls it right back. It’s talking about something slightly deeper.

“That’s what’s interesting about the show, is you get the hardcore punk tracks, and then it shifts into a much softer side. So, you have that real dichotomy of binary happening on stage musically as well.”

On the musical side of things, Divina will hopefully be making use of her four-octave vocal range. “Hedwig really was written for somebody who isn’t a singer. That was the original idea, she’s not a great singer…”

So has Divina been miscast then?! Cue Divina’s characteristic laugh.

Divina continues, “I’m always about what is right for the role rather than what’s right for me. So, what is the role is asking, and this character what do they need in order to drive their story?

“So, hopefully, I won’t be making choices that are about Divina De Campo, and I’ll be making choices that are about Hedwig instead.”

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is being co-produced by the Playhouse as well as Manchester’s HOME. It will play at the Leeds Playhouse from 2 -23 April before transferring to Manchester 27 April – 11 May.

The Attitude December issue is out now.

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