GLL’s theatre obsessive Thomas Magill caught up with drag royalty Michelle Visage

Michelle, talk to me about this new exciting show.

It’s based on the movie Edward Scissorhands, but it’s a gayer, camper and more uplifting affair. You’ll leave the theatre feeling good and not sad. It’s a very dear film to me and the queer community in general because it’s about being an outcast and a misfit, but also being seen.

And this is your debut as a producer, why did you decide to get involved?

This is my first time producing. It’s so exciting because musical theatre is what I have my uni degree in. It’s my first love and it makes me so happy. My friend Bradley Bredeweg is the director and writer of the show, and he asked me to be in it. But the schedule wouldn’t allow and then he said “do you want to produce it instead?” — I was like ABSOLUTELY!

What elements of Michelle will we see in the show?

I don’t know if you’ll see elements of me per se, but I get behind the vision of Bradley and what these kids are bringing to the stage. If there’s anything really camp and fun and over the top, then there’s going to be an element of me there by default!

You seem to be so busy at the moment with this, Drag Race and then you popped up in the BBC show Smoggy Queens — what drew you to that?

The brilliant writer who also stars in it — Phil Dunning — sent my manager a script. I didn’t want to do more cameos of Michelle Visage anymore. I want to show people that I can act, so when I read the script I was like “Wow, it’s not me!”. Phil didn’t think I was going to do it but I said yes. Elaine is great fun and the opposite of me.

Do you get a chance to go to the theatre much?

Absolutely, I go as much as I can and not just to premieres. I will go undercover just to see a show and the West End feels like home to me. The last show I got to see was Prada starring my friend Vanessa Williams. I went to see a bunch of straight plays this season as well — the last one was The Hills of California, which was brilliant.

Now it’s been a tough start to the year for you with the loss of your friend The Vivienne. What are your memories of her?

Theatre is something Viv and I used to talk about. When I was in the Addams Family and Viv was rehearsing for Wizard of Oz, we got to have lunch a couple of times. It’s a tragedy bigger than just losing a friend, I think this community lost somebody very dear, very talented and very important to us. She will live on forever in our hearts and I have lots of naughty voice messages which I will listen back to!