Review: Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story at Hope Mill Theatre is ‘a royally camp comedy triumph’

Landing back in the UK after a world tour, our Lady Di is back and better than ever.

Created and performed by Linus Karp, Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story is a hilarious mishmash of drag, drama and audience participation.

The late great Lady Diana Spencer was no stranger to being the centre of attention, and the people’s princess was spotted looking glamorous across the globe.

She’s happier than ever and has decided to pop back from her trip to heaven to say hello to the good people of Manchester, by making an appearance at Hope Mill Theatre. (If none of this is making sense to you, stay with me, it will!)

Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story

Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story is exactly that, never seen or heard before and a little exaggerated.

Diana, played by Linus Karp, has come back from heaven to tell her story, her way… with a few untruths and a dance number thrown in for good measure.

As the audience filed into the Hope Mill Theatre space, some unsuspecting members of the public were given performance cards with roles and instructions to follow, which would be revealed throughout the show.

As this is Diana’s story, you’re introduced to her at the very start of her life. Approximately nine months prior to her birth.

As the lights dim, two audience members are invited on stage to be Diana’s parents, and after raising a sheet and a short wait, our Lady Di is born!

Crawling on the floor of the theatre space in a lemon two-piece and pearls, Linus instantly makes the audience laugh, and with her signature coy smile, Diana’s version of events begins.

While the show twists the truth slightly, all of the main characters in Diana’s untold story are recognisable.

The cardboard cut-out King, played by Joseph Martin

Including the Prince of Wales, Charles, who features heavily throughout and is played by a cardboard cutout of the now King and voiced by Joseph Martin.

Camilla also has her own cameo role to play, of course. First seen and not heard, the lights flash red and flicker as an unsettling low growl booms around the room. With every mention of her name, Camilla can be heard off stage groaning until her character is revealed.

Bursting onto the stage, a raggedy puppet with wool hair and one eye pounces on the prince. Camilla is played by a well-used puppet controlled by Joseph Martin, she is a chaotic, snarling beast in Diana’s story who even has a brief love affair with an audience member.

While Linus is the creative genius and star of the show, Joseph helps the story flow and entertains the audience by playing the supporting roles and puppeteering the uncontrollable Camilla with ease.

As Diana’s story develops, you see her achieving all of the traditional life goals.

She gets married and wears a big white dress, complete with never never-ending train. She has two babies with Charles, then ships them off to live a better life with their Nannies.

She even gets divorced and goes on a road trip through Paris and narrowly avoids an assassination attempt. What? You thought the people’s princess was dead? Not on Linus’s watch.

Our Diana is still out and about making headlines for all the right reasons. Lady Di is helping to eradicate AIDS, stop land mines, and shaking hands, and her booty, at pride parades – whether you’re Gay, Trans or Bi, you’re a friend of Di.

Complete with progress pride flag turned into a neck scarf, Diana is ready to sing her heart out and show the world who she really is and what she stands for; and she absolutely LOVES the queer community, of course!

An hour of non-stop laughs

Diana: The Untold and Untrue story is an hour of non-stop laughs, improvisation and audience participation. The chaos of the storytelling, combined with the effortless performances from both Linus and Joseph, allows you to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey to wherever the show takes you.

Each willing participant played their roles in true Manchester style, putting their all into their performances with only a few prompts from the cast. Linus’s ability to stay in character throughout, even after the show ends, is incredible.

With all the chaos of the creative show, it’s hard not to crack a smile, but Diana’s iconic smirk never left his face.

Tickets for Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story at Hope Mill Theatre

Diana is telling her story to the people of Manchester from the 12th of May to the 15th of May, and tickets are selling fast, so if you want a chance to see and even meet the people’s princess, get your tickets here.