I recently had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Kate Butch, Drag Race UK Season 5 contestant, co-writer, and performer in TuckShop’s fabulous all-drag pantomime, Snow White. If you want a taste of the cheeky, adult retelling of this classic fairy tale, I highly recommend listening to the full episode of Queerly’s Stage and Screen Podcast. But here’s a little glimpse into the pantomime magic and the creative whirlwind behind the scenes.
Kate shared how exciting but also a bit nerve-wracking it was to write and perform in the show. “It’s a bit of pressure because I don’t want people to think, oh, she’s written it and she’s either given herself too much to do or not enough to do. Luckily, I’ve got the fabulous Crudie Dench, my co-writer, who keeps me in check and stops me from being too silly.” She admitted to being a little scared of writing her own scenes, worried she might cringe at her own behaviour on stage, so they cleverly divided the writing tasks between them.
What really stood out was how the pantomime embraces the adult, campy spirit of drag. Kate explained, “If you’ve got however many drag artists in a room, you’re naturally going to have some very filthy conversations. Very cheeky attitudes. So we’re just playing into that campery and the grown-upness of drag. And I think adults need a panto as well. I think it’s wasted on children, I would say.”
This cheeky, “rude, crude and not for prudes” approach makes Snow White a perfect antidote to the usual family-friendly fare, packed with jokes and innuendo that will have audiences laughing all night long.
Kate also reflected on how the show has grown over the years. “It’s just got bigger and better. The audience comes now knowing what to expect… but there’s some little Easter eggs for the people who have been there since the beginning.” It’s a wonderful mix of classic pantomime tradition with fresh, drag-infused twists.
Talking about the writing process, Kate said, “Luckily pantomime starts off with a very simple story. Everyone knows the plot of Snow White, so they’re quite short stories that you can just embellish with a lip sync number or a musical theatre song that everyone’s singing along to or audience participation. That’s the classic drag staple meets the storyline of the fairy tale.” This simplicity gives them the freedom to be “incredibly silly and quite rotten and horrible with it as well.”
One scene Kate is especially excited about? “The one where I as the HuntsThem have to take Snow White into the forest and cut out her heart. I’m very excited for that one. It’s all going to be really, really silly and really fun.”
Beyond the pantomime, Kate’s journey into drag and performance is inspiring. She shared how she and Crudie Dench started doing drag together, inspired by watching US Drag Race, and how persistence paid off after applying multiple times to Drag Race UK before landing on season five. Her advice to aspiring drag artists? “Make your own stuff and create your own opportunities… you do have to be a jack of all trades, really.”
To cap off the chat, we had some fun with Christmas quick-fire questions – from Kate’s favourite Christmas movie (Muppet’s Christmas Carol) to her dream Christmas destination (a snowy New York with Home Alone vibes), and even her guilty pleasure Christmas song (“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” which she describes as “quite creepy and weird, but very camp”).
Kate’s enthusiasm and warmth shine through every moment of our conversation. If you want to dive deeper into the world of Snow White, hear more about the pantomime’s creation, and enjoy the full festive fun, be sure to listen to the full interview on Queerly’s Stage and Screen Podcast.
And if you’re ready to experience the magic live, tickets for Snow White are available now for a limited run at the Emerald Theatre. Book tickets here.