Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story at Hope Mill Theatre

After playing to sold-out Edinburgh Fringe audiences across August, the People’s Princess is going back on tour this autumn. Labelled "the most unhinged piece of theatre in existence" (Broadway Baby), Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story uniquely combines drag, multimedia, audience interaction, puppetry and queer joy, highlighting Diana’s ground-breaking stances on social and queer issues and allowing her to speak her (un)truth in breaking free from the monarchy.  She will be visiting the royal realms of Birmingham, Poole, Manchester, Oxford, Bristol, Glasgow, Cardiff, Dublin, Nottingham and Farnham, before delighting her subjects for one night only at London’s Clapham Grand. 

Linus Karp comments, Last November we opened this show in a 70-seat venue in London. A year later I am performing at Clapham Grand, ten times the capacity. I can't believe the journey this show has taken me on already and am so thrilled audiences across the UK are so hungry for a show full of queer joy and the magical power of Princess Diana. Let's go girls. 

Told by Diana from Heaven, Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story foregrounds this iconic royal as the powerful, independent woman she wasn’t meant to be.  Writer and performer Linus Karp (how to live a jellicle life: life lessons from the 2019 hit movie musical 'cats') brings Diana to life supported by puppetry and voice overs from Joseph Martin (The Gunpowder Plot, Layered Reality). Geri Allen (Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre) portrays The Queen and Zina Badran (Doctor Who, BBC) joins as God, both via interactive video clips. The remaining supporting cast is different every single show - due to it being played by audience members! 

This tour follows a hugely successful spring 2023 tour and Edinburgh Fringe run, and will see Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story delight and surprise subjects across the land.  

Diana is a riot from beginning to end. The audience participation is perfectly crafted, the jokes and stings consistently spot-on, and the lead performance an absolute joy – The Wee Review 

Rowdy, unhinged, and wilfully savaging – this show is a one hit K.O of satire and silliness – Binge Fringe  

Hilarious, joyful and ridiculous to the point of sublime – Deborah Frances-White, The Guilty Feminist 

Running Time 70 minutes 

CREATIVE TEAM:

Writer, Director, Producer Linus Karp (he/him) 

Co-Director, Puppeteer, Stage Manager Joseph Martin (he/they) 

Designer Amy Pitt (she/her) 

Choreographer Sam Carlyle (she/her) 

Composer, Graphic Designer Wez Maddocks (he/him) 

LX Designer Ebbe Rodtborg (he/him) 

Additional LX Design James Appleby (he/him)  

Photography, Videography Dave Bird (he/him) 

Video Editor Daniel Boylett (he/him) 

Drag and Makeup Artist Carrot (they/them) 

Puppetry Consultant Tara Boland (she/her) 

CAST:

Diana Linus Karp (he/him) 

Charles, Camilla Joseph Martin (he/they) 

The Queen Geri Allen (she/her) 

God Zina Badran (she/her) 

Warning: includes flashing lights, audience participation, strong language and Camilla Parker Bowles