Marm's Spotlight, Manchester

Rolling off the back of the Drag Race lorry, armed with nothing but a RuPeter Badge and a fading memory of the Werk Room, Marmalade wades into the territory of post show “fame”, and is left wondering…

Why did she do that? Why did she go on the show? What kind of impact does the show, one of that scale, have on local scenes and their? A show that doesn’t necessarily platform the drag she loves, and why doesn’t it? What kind of drag does she love? Does she still love her own drag? Why does she do it?

Welcome to Spotlight - a new venue designed, operated and built by Marmalade herself (it wasn’t, this is theatre), and her chance to explore these questions, pretend she has answers, and celebrate the drag and queer artists she loves.

Development stages of this show were funded by Arts Council of Wales. Directed by Elan Isaac, with written material by Priya Hall, creative support by Leo Drayton, and produced by Daniel Huw Bowen on behalf of The Queer Emporium, Marm’s Spotlight is a newly created theatre show by star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and drag artist, Marmalade.

Illustration by cakelikeowen

Cast

Marmalade

Marmalade is a drag artist and seamstress, who taught herself to sew during the lockdown period caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. She has made outfits for organisations including Frân Wen and National Eisteddfod Cymru, though she is most well known for outfits made for contestants on the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise. Her sewing recently made her a Guinness Book Record Holder and her outfit, 'Marmalade’s Marie Antoinette Drag Ensemble', is currently on display as part of the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition at the V&A South Kensington until March 2026.

In 2024, she competed on the sixth series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, placing in the top four. Since then, she has performed at notable LGBTQ+ venues and spaces, including The Clapham Grand, The Glee Club and Pride Cymru.

Vil is Manchester’s trans drag princess and showgirl, serving high femme glamour, with a tasteful dash of camp. One part queen, one part superstar, you’re in for something seductive, stupid and subversive.

Manchester based The Vicar's Daughter is the UK's primary non binary drag swing! Serving king, queen and everything beyond and between. With one eye on heaven and one hand in the collection box, this Sunday school dropout puts the fun in fundamentalist dogma. Who said camp can't be conceptual!? Exploring their inner world through campery, characterisation, clowning, circus and pantomime to personify and project their thoughts and ideas and converse with their inner demons.

Leila Navabi

Leila Navabi is a writer and comedian from South Wales. In 2023, she made her Edinburgh Fringe debut with a sellout run of her musical comedy hour Composition, and returned to the festival in 2025 with her show, Relay, and was the recipient of the Edinburgh National Partnership, supported by Sherman and The Pleasance. Described as 'the actual future of comedy' (LMAOnaise), her television and radio stand-up credits include BBC New Comedy Awards 2022 (BBC), Stand Up in My House (BBC), Ffyrnig (S4C) and Ni y Nawdegau (BBC Cymru). She has provided tour support for Jessica Fostekew, Laura Smyth and Nish Kumar.