RuPaul’s Drag Race UK sensation Kate Butch draws inspiration from her musical namesake in her debut Fringe show Kate Butch: Wuthering Shites. The high-energy comic set at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s Pleasance Dome showcases Butch as a multi-faceted comic talent – her quick-witted skills, moments of responsive audience interaction, and ability to craft a parody musical number shine in this punchy hour long show.
Inspired by the success of jukebox musicals such as Mamma Mia! Kate Butch comes to the Fringe to workshop her plan for BUSH! The Musical, a number that takes on the hits of Kate Bush. The star talks, sings and lip-syncs through the concept, utilising the skills of the audience to help bring the piece to life – but will Kate Bush’s lawyers get in between BUSH! and Broadway?
Appearing on stage, a vision in red, to Running Up That Hill, Butch shares the song is not the only thing to get a boost from an international television franchise. The drag talent is a warm and absorbing comic storyteller, drawing us into her camp fantasy to celebrate Kate Bush through the ultimate tribute a jukebox musical. Butch has created a fantastic concept involving marrying a man called James, having a baby called Wow, James cheating on her with Kashka from Baghdad, before going to Iraq and unleashing some Hammer Horror. ABBA could never!
In the depiction of this chaotic jukebox musical on acid, Butch drafts in some unwilling audience members for support – her husband James is snatched from crowd, whilst a young woman is forced into performing with a Yorkshire accent to fit her part, priests, paternal ghosts, and even Kashka from Baghdad are all plucked from audience obscurity to star in the glorious heights of BUSH! Butch showcases herself as a comic maestro in her improvisational skills, sparking off audience members and quipping with a snappy gusto. A particular highlight sees Kate aghast that one audience member named her imaginary friend Debbie, a bit like her mum’s pal. Butch’s ribbing and interactions are playful and good-spirited, drawing us into this madcap hour of comedy with ease.
Amongst the moments of the absurd that Butch creates in her growing musical, the drag talent brings in fan favourite Kate Bush tracks including Babooshka, Wuthering Heights (which is edged throughout), Running Up That Hill and The Man With the Child In His Eyes – whilst also finding amusing ways to sneak in lesser known anthems such as Hammer Horror and Wow. There’s a genuine love for Kate Bush present that Butch manages to radiate through this lovingly chaotic satirical tribute to the star and her work. Butch finds fresh ways to present these – mixing comic versions, with more authentic renditions (with surprisingly strong vocals), and the odd lip-sync.
Delightfully chaotic and enjoyably scrappy at points, Kate Butch: Wuthering Shites is a high camp triumph that draws us into the drag star’s delightfully unhinged world. Brimming with well-pitched audience interaction, sharp comedic musings, and lovingly paying tribute to Kate Bush’s oeuvre, Wuthering Shites is riotous amount of fun.
Kate Butch: Wuthering Shites tickets are available here.
Lead photo: Harry Elletson