DIANA: The untold and untrue Story at King’s Head Theatre 17 April – 5 May 2024

‘Karp is a natural superstar, with his trade-mark vulnerability, quirky delivery and his impeccable comic timing’ ★★★★★ 

Linus Karp is something of an icon in some circles. He’s been carving out a career with his trade-mark vulnerability and quirky delivery (and he has impeccable comic timing). In this production his portrayal of Princess Diana, people’s hero is devoted to honouring her memory whilst taking a humorous pop at the rest of the Royals.  Diana’s work with aids victims and her acceptance of them being a huge part of that grateful admiration, a fact commented upon a couple of times during the show.

The show has a dream like quality (or nightmare, depending on your politics). It starts with a film screening of divine clouds and which part with the announcement: “It is I, Princess Di”. The hilarity begins. Karp arrives on stage in the familiar persona of the Princess and continues to show the development of her relationship with Charles and other Royals. There is a hefty amount of audience participation, as they are called upon to play the peripheral roles, which they do with various degrees of success or failure, causing more laughter. 

Some might call it tasteless trash, but it is side splittingly funny tasteless trash and it’s even fair to say that it’s cleverly done, with many snidely ironic comments, and imagery familiar to us all via popular culture. If it’s hard to imagine how a Smurf, the horror film The Exorcist, or a metatheatre Queen is woven into the piece, you have to see it, to believe it. The use of props, puppetry and film are paramount.

In this version, the audience of the night demand that Diana doesn’t die but on other nights there might be another outcome. This moment is perhaps the denouement of the show and in the final scenes, we see an imagined account of what Diana might have achieved had she survived.   It’s all rounded off beautifully, with an ecstatic response from the audience.

It's also rather appropriate to note that the show doesn’t end at the end. Everyone is invited to meet Diana post show, to chat, take selfies and buy merchandise (of course). It works really well as Karp is a natural superstar and already has a cult following. Next up is ‘Gwyneth Goes Skiing’.

Awkward Production present

DIANA: The untold and untrue Story

King’s Head Theatre 17 April – 5 May 2024

Wednesday 17th April – Sunday 5th May 2024

Kings Head Theatre, 116 Upper Street, London N1 1QN

Box Office https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/diana-the-untold-and-untrue-story

CAST

Diana | Linus Karp

Charles, Camilla and Others | Joseph Martin

The Queen | Geri Allen

God | Zina Badran

CREW

Writer, Director, Producer | Linus Karp

Co-Director, Producer, Additional Material, Stage Manager | Joseph Martin

Original Music | Wez Maddocks

Designer | Amy Pitt

Choreography | Sam Carlyle

LX Design | Ebbe Rodtborg

Additional LX Design | James Appleby

Associate Producers | Karim-Pasha Ladbon, Ryan Ludick

Video Design and Editing | Daniel Boylett

Puppetry Consultant | Tara Boland

Make Up Artist | Carrot

Photography, Videography | Dave Bird