Edinburgh Fringe Hit Don't Tell Dad About Diana Comes to London for Two Nights Only

One of the Edinburgh Fringe's most talked-about recent hits is heading to London for an extremely limited engagement. Don't Tell Dad About Diana, the critically acclaimed queer coming-of-age comedy set in 1997 Dublin, will play at Underbelly Boulevard Soho on Tuesday 26th and Thursday 28th May 2025, with both performances at 7pm. After selling out its Fringe run and earning rave reviews on an Irish tour, this is a rare chance for London audiences to experience a show that has already amassed an impressive collection of accolades.

What Is Don't Tell Dad About Diana About?

Created and performed by real-life best friends Hannah Power and Conor Murray, the show follows two Irish teenagers in 1990s Dublin who share an all-consuming obsession with Princess Diana. As the world around them shifts and changes, they secretly plot to enter the legendary Alternative Miss Ireland drag competition with an outrageous act of their own devising.

What unfolds is a high-energy blend of drag performance, melodrama, and thick layers of 90s nostalgia, all filtered through a distinctly working-class Irish and queer perspective. At its heart, the show is about friendship, identity, and the exhilarating terror of growing up in a city, and a country, on the cusp of transformation. Dublin in 1997 was a place where old conservatism was beginning to crack under the weight of cultural change, and that tension provides a rich backdrop for this deeply personal story.

A Trail of Awards and Critical Praise

Don't Tell Dad About Diana arrives in London with serious credentials. The production was named one of Rolling Stone's 10 Standout Fringe Shows, putting it in elite company among the thousands of productions that make up the Edinburgh Festival Fringe each year. It also won Theatre Weekly's Best LGBTQ+ Show award and received a nomination for the BBC Writers Popcorn Award, recognition that speaks to both the quality of the writing and its resonance with audiences.

Its Edinburgh Fringe run sold out entirely, and the subsequent Irish tour has continued to generate enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics alike. For a two-hander created by emerging artists, this trajectory is remarkable, and it speaks to the universal appeal of a story that manages to be both highly specific in its cultural setting and broadly relatable in its emotional core.

The Creative Team Behind the Show

Hannah Power and Conor Murray are not just co-creators but genuine best friends, and that authentic chemistry is widely cited as one of the production's greatest strengths. Their real-life bond translates into a stage dynamic that feels both natural and electric, allowing the audience to invest fully in the teenage friendship at the centre of the story.

Both performers bring a versatility that the show demands in abundance. Switching between characters, slipping into drag sequences, and navigating tonal shifts from riotous comedy to genuine emotional depth, Power and Murray have crafted a piece that showcases their range as performers while never losing sight of the story they are telling.

Why 1990s Dublin? The Cultural Context

Setting the show in 1997 is no arbitrary choice. Ireland in the late 1990s was undergoing seismic social and economic change. The Celtic Tiger was transforming Dublin from a city still marked by emigration and economic hardship into a booming European capital. Meanwhile, the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland was navigating a landscape that had only decriminalised homosexuality in 1993, just four years before the events of the play.

Alternative Miss Ireland, the drag competition that serves as a central plot device, was itself a real and culturally significant event. Founded in 1987, it became a vital celebration of queer culture and creativity in Ireland, providing a space for expression and community at a time when mainstream acceptance was far from guaranteed. By placing their characters in this specific milieu, Power and Murray tap into a rich vein of cultural history that adds layers of meaning to what might otherwise be a straightforward coming-of-age story.

And then, of course, there is Diana. Princess Diana's death in August 1997 was a global event that transcended borders and demographics, but the show uses the teenagers' fascination with her as a lens through which to explore themes of glamour, aspiration, and the gap between public image and private reality.

Underbelly Boulevard Soho: The Perfect London Home

Underbelly Boulevard Soho is a fitting venue for this transfer. Known for hosting some of the most exciting work to emerge from the Edinburgh Fringe circuit, Underbelly's London spaces maintain the intimate, slightly rough-around-the-edges atmosphere that allows Fringe shows to thrive outside of Edinburgh. The venue's Soho location also places the production in the heart of London's historic LGBTQ+ neighbourhood, adding another layer of resonance to a show that celebrates queer identity and community.

With only two performances scheduled, demand is expected to be high. Audiences who missed the Edinburgh run or who have been following the show's Irish tour from afar would be well advised to act quickly.

Should You Book?

If you are a fan of queer theatre, 90s nostalgia, or simply brilliant two-hander storytelling, Don't Tell Dad About Diana looks like an essential booking. The combination of its award-winning pedigree, sold-out track record, and extremely limited London availability makes this one of those shows that could easily sell out before many people even know it is happening. Two nights only means there is virtually no room for procrastination.

The show appeals to a broad audience despite its specific setting. You do not need to be Irish, queer, or old enough to remember 1997 to connect with a story about friendship, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to be yourself. That said, if you do remember where you were when Diana died, or if you have any fondness for the chaotic energy of 90s drag culture, this production promises to hit even harder.

Tickets for both performances on 26th and 28th May are available now, and given the show's reputation, early booking is strongly recommended.

Looking for more exciting theatre to see in London? Browse our full list of London shows currently booking, or explore our guides to the best plays and musicals on stage right now.