‘Silliness suddenly has power’ – Jonny Woo teases the return of his Un-Royal Variety Show

Jonny Woo’s Un-Royal Variety is back for its third year and Jonny promises to make it his biggest and most spectacular yet as Jonny brings you the absolute best in cabaret, drag and nu-variety.

The darlings of the UK scene will join up with some incredibly exciting transatlantic performers, to create all new, out of this world collaborations – and we caught up with Jonny to find out more…

What makes an Un-Royal Variety Show shine? What’s the inspiration behind this madness?

I try to make it different each year. This is the third. I wasn’t entirely sure what it was going to be at first. Just a variety with great queer and alternative acts, then we had that vote in 2016 and it was like, ah, this has got to say something more. The advent of Brexit made the show feel more vital. It made silliness suddenly have a power, like it was like yeah, we are in the shit but we can still laugh, on our own terms. We wrote our Brexit show, it premiered in front of 1300 people. I loved that the audience was divided and some weren’t into it. I loved that Gareth bought a new character that Lucy screamed onto the stage. I want each year to shine in a different way. The inspiration for all this was basically a kind of nostalgic love/hate memory of the actual Royal Variety. This classic format is ripe for subversion. I love the cosiness of variety. I love that you can bring something and present it as comfortable and light entertainment and inject some real punch.

Why the Hackney Empire?

I lived in Hackney for 20 years and The Empire dominates Mare Street. I get very involved where I live and I love Hackney and I always wanted to do a big show there. We did Gay Bingo in 2014 and I wanted to do another show. The atmosphere as a performer on that stage is amazing. It’s the perfect place for this kind of a show, and its accessible, and affordable-ish and my pal Reuben who produces the show works there and said, why don’t you do something here. It all lined up.

There’s a smorgasbord of performers. And we love a smorgasbord. Which one performer is your crown jewel this year?

OMG Why do you ask me that? Every year I bring back many of my favourites from the year before and if they are not there except them in The Royal Box, such as Lavinia and Diane Chorley this year. I’m not picking one, it’s not fair. But I am super excited about Adrienne Truscott. She is doing a solo and working with Le Gateau on new work. She is so engaged with what’s happening in the states, her voice needs be heard on our stage. When I saw her in Edinburgh, I was like wow! I would love you in my show. I also have my long-term buddy from NYC coming over. We are having a mini rock happening at the start of the second act. It will be wild. I have a great MD this year, Vicky Falconer, she rocks. Her musical knowledge is spot on and she can play everything. Oh and Carla Lippis from Australia and Gary Starr the newest breakout act from Fringe 2018.and did I mention Margo Marshall and The Sex Shells. See! I would never pick one.

For those of us living under a rock who the hell is this Christeene character you speak of?

That’s where Christeene lives. Under a rock, or maybe in the woods, or by the bins. I’m never sure. For one so feral she knows her way around a music-editing suite! Christeene is electric rock and rap, dub poet, renegade. She is dirty in the best way and takes things out her butt. I dunno. My mum wouldn’t get it and after last year there are a lot of people who still don’t get it. Check her stuff out online. Fuck it just come and see the show.

Lucy McCormick is a bit of a laugh, too. Who else is tickling your taste buds on the night?

Ok so I listed the new faces. So in addition we have Le Gateau Chocolat of course. Mawaan Rizwan, doing a full set this year with dancers and bespoke costume. Myra Dubois kicks off the show, with a new song written with Richard Thomas. Sooz sings with Margo, slaying a Broadway classic. Rhys’ Pieces brings their winning act from Lip Sync 1000. I have the new drag kings and queens, Liza’s, a kick ass band…oh and Jayde Adams and myself are taking on Freddie Mercury’s ‘Barcelona’! It’s very high! We will wear aqua chiffon…oh and Bourgeois and Maurice are back and they have the BEST set design. Its costing a fortune! In cardboard.

Apparently Theresa May will be making an appearance with… umm… herself? And herself again. And again. What’s the deal?

Ok just to tease. There are multiple singing Theresa’s and they are not happy and want change, but not the change you might expect and erm, well, Fuck Brexit?

Would Boris approve?

Who gives a toss? He won’t be there thank god.

Jonny Woo’s Un-Royal Variety Show is at London’s Hackney Empire from 19-20 October at 7.30pm. Follow @unroyalvariety on Instagram.