‘Sizzle, sparkle and silliness’: the Lady Boys of Bangkok come to town
Get your glamour on for the The Lady Boys of Bangkok, an over-the-top cabaret and comedy show that plays with gender and genre for a dazzling night out.
“Lady boys have a long and significant heritage in Thailand,” explains Hayley Gandey, creative director of The Lady Boys of Bangkok.
“Dating back to Siam they were labelled the Kathoey and enjoy a recognised position within the community at large. The Kathoey were described as the third sex – occupying a space between the two genders and they would often go into entertainment performing songs and dances at country fairs.
“This tradition continued over generations and now the Kathoey play a meaningful and respected position within the Thai entertainment economy. Performing in large theatres with lavish sets and staging, they have honed their art of not only looking like the most beautiful women to walk the earth but also entertaining audiences through dance, comedy and performance.”
A dazzling cabaret and comedy show featuring a troupe of performers billed as “the world’s most beautiful showgirls who just happen to be men”, The Lady Boys of Bangkok is set to bring a contemporary spin on this deep history to the Adelaide Fringe. The show will premiere at The Octagon in Gluttony on February 21, with a carefully curated cast of glamourous performers from Thailand.
Audiences can expect powerhouse ballads from Shirley Bassey, Nicki Minaj, Shania Twain and more in a show that aims to debunk the myths and clichés about Thailand’s drag traditions and reimagine them in a slick production featuring spectacular choreographing, lavish costumes, beautiful makeup and plenty of fun.
You might like
“This show has the perfect mix of mesmerising beauty, energy and enthusiasm as well the ability to connect with the audiences to ensure that everyone leaves with a smile on their face,” says creative director Hayley Gandey.
“This cast would not look out of place on any concert stage, and you’d be right to second guess that some of the routines performed aren’t the original superstars themselves.
“This is all tied together with side-splitting comedic moments, led by Ole who presents as a traditional drag artist and has been performing to European audiences for over a decade.”
Subscribe for updates
The show was inspired when the late Phillip Gandey, Hayley’s father and a respected entertainment entrepreneur, visited Bangkok in 1998 and was persuaded to see a Lady Boys cabaret show. While this form of entertainment was commonplace in Thailand, it had not been seen widely outside of that cultural context.
Gandey was impressed by what he saw, and ended up bringing the idea for a show back to the UK where he and wife Carol spent years bringing The Lady Boys of Bangkok to European audiences.
The concept was a winner, and a quarter century later the show continues to shine under the creative direction of the couple’s daughter Hayley. The show has been performed to packed houses at the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland.
Hayley says the success of this show taps into the audiences desire for escapism and inclusivity.
“Your worries are left behind, and fun laughter and togetherness prevail,” she says. “This show has led the way in creating a space where everyone is welcome, and you leave with a song in your heart and a smile on your face.
“In three words I would describe this show as ‘sizzle, sparkle and silliness’.”
The Lady Boys of Bangkok also involves loads of audience participation so, “expect to get involved, in one way or another”, Hayley says.
The Lady Boys of Bangkok plays at The Octagon from February 21 to March 23
