She Slayed: A drag murder mystery too fabulous to miss | Midsumma Festival | Victorian Pride Centre

After a sold-out run at the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, She Slayed: A Drag Murder Mystery returns for a Midsumma Festival season, bringing its blend of hilarious antics and over-the-top musical numbers back to Melbourne. We sat down with Cabaret Queen Dolly Diamond to talk about the cast, the chaos, and what makes performing this drag murder mystery so irresistibly entertaining.

She Slayed was initially staged in March 2024, so a return season to Midsumma has been much anticipated. While the ensemble looked like they were having the time of their lives on stage, Diamond confirms that spark wasn’t just for show. "I definitely feel like I’ve reached that point of my life where I only want to do the shows where I know I’m going to have fun," she says. "This show is exactly that, and the cast is made up of friends I’ve known for quite a few years. That is such a privileged position to be in and I’m grateful for that."

The show has also had a turn in Sydney, and in both instances, it has completely sold out. Audiences have lapped up the wild tomfoolery, biting humour, and music and dance numbers. "I was pleasantly surprised with people's responses to these seasons,  because it’s a ridiculous plot and we play it for the laughs pretty much all the way through it," Diamond tells me.

Diamond is known for her razor-sharp banter, effortlessly staying alert while performing, scanning for opportunities in the audience, and turning them into unexpected bits with a seamless mix of instinct and quick thinking. When My Melbourne Arts reviewed She Slayed, she delivered some killer one-liners in response to a reaction or external influences. "I guess I think ahead a little but it’s mostly instinctive and the chatter with the audience is always my favourite part. I’m taking a show to Adelaide Fringe in March, Tits & Teeth, and it’s basically all crowd work," she says. "I used to go for the jugular a bit more a few years back but now I try not to spill a drop."

The show pokes fun at ego, rivalry, and diva behaviour, and for this group of actors, these outrageous moments have truly clicked, and led to electric on-stage chemistry. "Jens Radda and POUSSAY are amazing at playing the diva but come from a strong theatrical background so they know when to switch it on and off. That's important and critical to the show's success. And this time round, we have Adore Händel joining the cast, and I’m so excited to have them with us."

With fatally high doses of absurd capers, cutting humour, and undeniable energy between the four stars, She Slayed: A Drag Murder Mystery will once again leave audiences laughing and gasping in equal measure. It's a show so good, missing it might just feel like a crime.

MIDSUMMA MINUTES – QUICKFIRE FIVE

1. A song I could listen to on repeat forever is The Boss by Diana Ross,
2. One object I can’t live without backstage used to be a glass of wine but I don’t drink before a show anymore.
3. My favourite word is fabulous because I try to celebrate life.
4. Something unexpected that brings me joy is laughter. 
5. If I could live one day as someone else, it would be me, because I’m happy being me.

Read our review of She Slayed: A Drag Murder Mystery's 2024 Melbourne Comedy Festival Season

Show Details

Venue: Victorian Pride Centre, 79 - 81 Fitzroy St, St Kilda
Season: 29 - 31 January | Thurs - Sat 7:30pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $35 Full | $26 Conc
Bookings: Midsumma Festival

Image credit: Harper O.