The Vivienne on villainous The Wizard of Oz role, her one-woman show and why she wouldn't make it as an emerging drag queen today
manchestereveningnews.co.ukFor the last two weeks, drag star The Vivienne has been donning the green make-up, styling out huge, glam gowns and perfecting her best witchy cackle in the Wizard of Oz at the Palace Theatre.
Starring as the Wicked Witch of the West alongside Jason Manford’s Cowardly Lion and Aston Merrygold’s Tin Man, the musical has received huge praise with The Vivienne’s ‘delicious vigour’ being particularly heralded.
For the star, originally from Colwyn Bay in Wales and having emerged her drag persona through the Liverpool LGBTQ+ scene, it’s a role she says she has been dreaming of performing since first watching the film on television as a child. READ MORE: Janet Jackson UK tour 2024 announces huge Manchester show “I loved The Wizard of Oz growing up,” The Vivienne tells the M.E.N “It’s one of the first things I remember ever watching - just that whole scene where it went from black-and-white into technicolour just captured my attention.
It’s an amazing story of finding your tribe and growing up knowing that there’s bigger and better things out there, it’s an inspiring story.” And whilst many actors and performers would perhaps long to be able to click the glittery red heels on stage and belt out Somewhere Over The Rainbow, The Vivienne always had her eyes on the green witch. “She’s one of the most iconic characters ever really,” she explains. “She was my first ever introduction to evil, I suppose.
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