Savage first look: Danny Beard as Lily Savage ahead of Curve premiere and UK tour

Danny Beard as Lily Savage. Photo: Oliver Rosser.

Here is the first look at Danny Beard as Lily Savage. In new pictures by photographer Oliver Rosser, the RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner strikes a pose against a brick wall in a towering platinum wig, a leopard print suit and pearls, cigarette in hand, for Savage, the new comedy by Jonathan Harvey inspired by the life of Paul O'Grady.

The play has its world premiere at Curve in Leicester on Saturday 13 February 2027. From there it plays six more venues across the UK, including Liverpool, Salford and Birmingham, before a planned run in London's West End.

What is the play about?

Created with O'Grady's blessing, the play draws on his life and his autobiographies to tell the story behind the creation of Lily Savage. It begins with a boy from Birkenhead with a sharp tongue and thick skin, and follows him from the streets of Merseyside to the heart of London's club scene. There, armed with little more than his wits and a wig, he created the fearless, foul mouthed alter ego who went on to win the hearts of millions.

Its makers promise sharp wit, unexpected tenderness and plenty of peroxide in this story of how Paul became Lily and how Lily became a British icon. Curve calls it a drag extravaganza.

The star, the writer and the director

Beard won the fourth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and was the first bearded queen to be crowned in the franchise. Since then they have hosted their own BBC Three show and a BBC Radio 1 show, appeared in Hollyoaks, and finished second on Celebrity Big Brother in 2025. Their solo show Straight Expectations earned five star reviews at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Harvey, who comes from Liverpool, wrote Beautiful Thing and the sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme, and has written more than 300 episodes of Coronation Street. O'Grady, who died in March 2023, was involved in the early development of the play. "I'm delighted Jonathan (Harvey) has agreed to write the script, I really am as he's perfect for this and he's such a great writer," he said.

Harvey said: "It's so sad he's not here to see it, but hopefully this will be a fitting testament to everything he achieved, and a cracking night out full of humour and heart."

The production is directed by Curve's artistic director Nikolai Foster, whose productions include Kinky Boots and Legally Blonde. It is produced by ROYO, Curve, Hope Mill Theatre and Eilene Davidson. Further casting and creatives are still to be announced.

When does it run in Leicester?

From Saturday 13 February to Saturday 6 March 2027 at Curve. The show runs for about 2 hours 20 minutes, including an interval, and is recommended for ages 14 and over, as it contains explicit language. Tickets for the Leicester run are on sale now, and full performance times are listed by Curve.

Where does it go after Leicester?

These are the dates announced so far, all in 2027:

• 16 to 20 March: Liverpool Playhouse
• 23 to 27 March: Lowry, Salford
• 30 March to 3 April: Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
• 6 to 10 April: Theatre Royal Bath
• 13 to 17 April: Norwich Theatre Royal
• 20 to 24 April: Birmingham Hippodrome

A West End run is planned after the tour, but the London theatre and dates have not yet been announced.

Are there accessible performances?

Yes. Curve has scheduled these access performances during the Leicester run:

• BSL interpreted: Friday 26 February 2027, 7.15pm
• Audio described: Saturday 27 February 2027, 2pm, with a touch tour from 12.30pm
• Captioned: Friday 5 March 2027, 7.15pm

More to read

Read about Jonathan Harvey's Beautiful Thing at Above The Stag, see Curve's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in rehearsal, or look back at The Wizard of Oz in rehearsal at Curve.