Lady Red Velvet on Her Royal Roast God Save the Queen!
After the success of our 2025 Camden Fringe Interviews, we thought it only right to attempt a repeat for 2026. So throughout July we’ll be publishing new interviews each day to give a taste of what to expect from London’s best fringe theatre festival. The festival starts Monday 3 August this year, so we may give ourselves a couple of days off inbetween the end of the interviews and the first shows… then again, we might not.
You can find out more about Camden Fringe, along with details of every show playing this August here. You can also find all of this year’s interviews as they are published here.
What if Queen Elizabeth II got entirely fed up with royal protocol, faked her passing, spent a few years hiding out in Benidorm, and decided to finally return to set the world to rights? Enter God Save the Queen!, an outrageous, pearl-clutching royal roast hitting Theatro Technis this August for Camden Fringe 2026. Created and performed by international drag artist Lady Red Velvet, this camp extravaganza has already taken Barcelona and Brighton by storm. Ditching the traditional crown for a gloriously unhinged private audience with her loyal subjects, Her Majesty is back to say exactly what she thinks.
We grabbed a virtual audience with Lady Red Velvet to chat about comedic rule-breaking, laminated corgis, and why Glenn Close is already slated to play her in the Hollywood biopic.
If you had to describe the vibe of your show in just one sentence, what would it be and how does it manifest on stage?
God Save the Queen! is a royal roast for the ages, designed to make you laugh, gasp, and clutch your pearls.
Why is 2026 the perfect time for this show to be seen?
If anyone can set the world to rights and bring a little joy back into our lives, it’s dear old Lizzy, and she’s ready to slay, Queen! In a world dominated by men driven by war and aggression, it felt only right to write a show about a Queen who’s had enough of the BS and is finally ready to stand up for those without a voice. This time, she’s doing things her way, with bloody good fun along the way.
What has been the most liberating, and challenging, part of stepping into these royal shoes?
Playing Queen Elizabeth II has been an absolute hoot! After faking her death and hiding out in Benidorm, she’s back, ditching the protocol and finally saying exactly what she thinks. As a performer, it’s incredibly liberating to let a character loose like that. It’s been a challenging role to play because I have so much respect for Her Majesty, but at the same time I wanted to explore a side of her we never really got to see, one that I think was there all along.
How important is audience interaction to the performance?
Audience interaction is key to this show. The Queen is giving a private audience to her loyal subjects and loves engaging with them, so having them respond adds real energy to the performance and creates wonderfully unexpected moments, which are often the funniest of all.
If your show was a meal, what would it be and why?
A Sunday roast, because that’s exactly what I do in the show: roast a few very deserving victims!
What is the weirdest or most unconventional prop used in your show?
That would have to be the laminated corgi. I’d love a real one, but a 2D version is much easier to squeeze into my suitcase when traveling!
Can you share a “review” of the show from your grandmother?
“I’m so glad I wore my adult nappy before seeing the show. It was laugh-out-loud, crazy fun! 5 stars” – Grandma 👵💦
What words of advice or encouragement would you give anyone thinking about taking on the Camden Fringe next year?
You only live once, so do it. Forget the haters, trust your gut, and surround yourself with supportive people who truly love you. By following that advice, I’ve been fearless in my projects, throwing myself into everything with positivity and creativity. Even when I’ve failed, I’ve picked myself back up and come back even stronger.
If you were Queen for a single day, what would your first decree be?
My first wish would be to make it law for people to smile, make each other laugh, support those in need, and stand up to bullies. Then I’d tell everyone to come and see my show for a wonderfully outrageous night out, because it would certainly guarantee them a very good time!
Our humble thanks to Lady Red for gracing us with her presence. God Save the Queen! plays at Theatro Technis on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August as part of Camden Fringe.
