Panti Bliss sets down her dancing shoes and returns to walking the boards with her bold and glamourous theatre show.

This May, Queen of Ireland Panti Bliss makes her long-awaited return to Soho Theatre with her smash-hit comedy If These Wigs Could Talk.

Fresh from making history on RTE’s Dancing with the Stars, If These Wigs Could Talk meets notorious drag queen Panti, age 54, after a lifetime of accidental activism, far-fetched shenanigans and making a full time show of herself, now taking a moment to question what her purpose and place in this changing world is.

Expect salacious stories, impassioned polemics, and some seriously funny soul searching as Panti takes us from rural Mayo to London’s glittering West End to the Irish Ambassador’s residence in Vienna, where the answer to her existential question presents itself where she least expects it.

It’s been six years since Panti performed at Soho Theatre with her smash-hit critically acclaimed High Heels in Low Places, currently available as a Soho Theatre Live special on Prime Video UK. Fast forward to 2023, following a record-breaking sold-out run at the Abbey Theatre in November, Panti’s back to invite you to learn from her ridiculous mistakes, laugh at her glittering failures and share in her triumphs, in this big, beautiful and brilliant night out.

How do you describe Panti Bliss and how do you identify?

She’s an avatar for the best parts of me, and I’m a drag queen and “gender discombobulist”.

What would these wigs say if they could talk?

They’d say “Who the hell are you?” and then tell you a ridiculous story before going on a righteous rant.

What shall we expect from this show?

Ridiculous stories and righteous rants.

Where did the idea come from?

I’m a 54yr old drag queen who’s seen the world and the drag change dramatically since I first glued on an eyelash and the show is about figuring out my place and purpose in a changed landscape.

You recently participated in RTE’s Dancing With The Stars. How was this experience? And how did you feel doing that well on the show?

It was a very fun, very intense experience with highs, lows, and everything in between. And obviously I was delighted to do well and I don’t even mind that I was ROBBED of the glitter ball trophy.

People call you Queen of Ireland. Do you feel like that too?

I do on Fridays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Bank Holidays. The other days I’m happy to share the crown with Roisin Murphy.

You seem to be a multi-talented queen. What do you enjoy the most? Theatre? Dancing? Performing at local pubs?

The theatre.

How does it feel coming back to Soho Theatre six years since you performed her smash-hit critically acclaimed High Heels in Low Places?

Wonderful! I love Soho Theatre and they are among the nicest people in the business.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned from your mistakes?

Your biggest mistakes will make a great story later in life.

What are your future plans?

Paul Mescal.

Tell us something about you that we could never imagine!

I love bridges. And I’ve had more than one pet sheep in my life.

Tickets for If These Wigs Could Talk are now on sale at sohotheatre.com.