With London Pride right around the corner, The Royal Albert Hall have just announced that RPDR UK S5’s Kate Butch will be hostessing Drag RoyalTea – Pride Edition in the gorgeous Elgar Room.
The show will involve lip syncs, live songs, competitions and Kate’s comedic timing. The menu for the event includes a Moscow Mule, a selection of sandwiches, a scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam. The event kicks off on 29th June at 1pm. For tickets and more info see www.royalalberthall.com.
Hello Kate, you’re celebrating Pride this year at the Royal Albert Hall. What does Pride in 2024 mean to you?
Even in our big year of 2024, we as queer people still face so much adversity and so many challenges, from random people on the street all the way up to our elected officials. Pride is a way of showing that we aren’t going anywhere, and that LGBTQ+ people are just the same as cis or straight people, with the same joys, fears, hopes, and worthy of the same respect and love.
You’re hosting Drag RoyalTea, what can people expect from this show?
It’s going to be a camp old time! I’ll be performing some of my favourite numbers, hosting ridiculous games with fabulous prizes, and pinching pastries off people’s plates.
There will be lip syncs and live vocals, I understand. What is your own ultimate pride anthem and why?
I’ve recently got VERY into Chappell Roan, whose songs often explore being queer and from a small rural town, which really speaks to me. Something like Pink Pony Club or Good Luck Babe are probably my favourites.
Performing at the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall is major, a place with such history. What’s your favourite myth or story about the Royal Albert Hall?
I went to watch the Olivier Awards at the Albert Hall in 2018 (I bought a ticket, I wasn’t yet a very fancy person at the point), and our seats were next to the ensemble of Hamilton, who had the BEST energy whenever anyone from their show won an award which, you can guess, was a LOT. There was just so much joy around us, and it was so infectious, I couldn’t stop smiling even though I hadn’t even seen the show yet.
I believe there will be cocktails on offer. What would be in a Kate Butch themed cocktail?
Alcohol! The most famous drag queen in the world recently suggested I had a drinking problem on international television so it should probably be something like a Long Island Iced Tea, just everything all at once.
There will also be scones on the menu. Important question. Do you say ‘Scon’ or ‘sc-oh-ne.’??? The nation needs to know!
I say it with an ‘oh’, although as half my family is from Yorkshire it often comes out skewed more towards ‘scern’. And it’s always jam first, thank you.
You first performed in drag aged six I believe as a panto dame! Can you tell us more about this moment? Who were you, the crowd reaction, etc?
I remember my teacher going through the list of characters and we’d have to put our hands up for the one we wanted to do, and when she announced the Dame (Dame Trott of Puss in Boots fame), nobody put their hand up. I’ve been a theatre queen since I was born and thought ‘the show must go on!’ so I volunteered! I don’t like to brag but I absolutely brought the house down. I had a tiny water pistol and would spray the audience when I cried, and I thought it was the campest thing ever.
You currently have a podcast reviewing Doctor Who. If Kate Butch were to appear on the show, what would she be doing? The assistant? A villain? What could you see the storyline being?
I’m LIVID that Jinkx Monsoon just did such a fabulous job as the Maestro, because that’s exactly what I would want to do. Since I can’t do that any more, I’m gonna shoot big and manifest being the Doctor. I’d love a storyline set around a big moment in LGBTQ+ history, maybe the first pride, or one featuring a queer historical figure like Alan Turing.
I also read you are obsessing over Long Island Medium. Understandable! Tell us more about why you love her so much.
The hair! The nails! The audacity of approaching random strangers in the deli and telling them you can see their dead mum! The woman’s a drag queen. I’ve watched about four seasons in a week. Someone call a doctor.
If you were to return for Drag Race All Stars, who would you like to be on there with? For better or worse!
Instinctively I’d want to say my good pals like Michael Marouli and Banksie, but I know it would be heartbreaking sending them home after I won every challenge (I’d spend more money on my runways, you see). I’d love the earlier eliminated queens from my season to come back, like Alexis St Pete and Naomi Carter, because they’re both such fabulous queens with loads more to show.
Lastly we are named after the biggest selling single of 2001 and always ask what is your favourite Mariah Carey song?
Am I allowed choose When You Believe from The Prince of Egypt? Great film, great soundtrack, two queens coming together to maximise their joint slay? Yes please!
For tickets and more info see www.theroyalalberthall.com
