Don't Tell Dad About Diana | Underbelly Boulevard Soho

Don’t Tell Dad about Diana is a heartwarming and delightful show that will have you beaming as you leave the theatre. It’s a hilarious and feel-good hour-long show, and at heart of it all? Princess Diana AKA the People’s Princess.

We follow two Irish teenagers Hannah and Conor as they prepare for one of the biggest nights of their lives - a chance to win Alternative Miss Ireland with their Princess Di drag act. Hannah is the costume and designer visionary. Conor is the closeted queer boy and the performer with the 32-inch waist. Conor and Hannah are the best of pals, thick as thieves and with a big secret they’re keeping from everyone - after finishing school and after this contest, they are going to leave Dublin and move to London.

But another secret that Conor is keeping from Hannah, and the sudden death of the People’s Princess, creates a rift between these two best friends. Can they survive the fall out? Can Conor still trust his best friend when his queerness is exposed? How can these two make it out in the world and still remain best friends?

This two-hander is a joyful powerhouse of emotions and love, and it’s nothing short of enjoyable. The references and reverence to Princess Diana are hilarious, and set in contrast to a pre-Good Friday Agreement Ireland makes for a hilarious premise. Injected into that is the love and friendship of two teenagers on the precipice of big changes - it truly is a heartwarming show that is full of 90s and teenage years nostalgia.

Written and performed by Hannah Power and Conor Murray themselves, this show is well acted and simple but effective in its execution. The use of lights to change between characters is brilliant, with lighting design by Ferdy Emmet. And the reversible wardrobe as the set, designed by Gabe Gilmour, not only feels clever but also incredibly symbolic (hello, closeted teenagers). But ultimately the quick and fantastic performances by Hannah and Conor make this show wonderful.

If you’re looking for a fun night out that has heartfelt moments, 90s nostalgia, Princess Diana references, and earnest performances about life as a teenager in Dublin in 1997, then this is the perfect show for you. And even if you are looking for only some of those things for a night out, this show is well worth the watch. Who knows? You might just find yourself calling your best friend after the show and going down memory lane.

Don't Tell Dad About Diana plays at the Underbelly Boulevard Soho again on the 28th May - tickets and more information can be found here.

★★★★★ (5*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Erica Verling and Romany Gilmour