With a track record of over 25 years as pioneers in the genre, the company joins the London summer scene to present their latest show, Full Moon, which will once again honour Thai cabaret through vibrant performances that combine drag, male dancers, and ladyboys. Guillermo Nazara chats with the woman who started it all to learn more about the piece’s development and a legacy that has welcomed such distinguished visitors as Rylan Clark, Russell Tovey, and Gail Porter.
How does it feel to be bringing the show back to London after so long?
It feels special. London is an important city, and bringing Ladyboys of Bangkok back here carries a real sense of history as well as excitement for the future. There’s a new generation of audiences discovering cabaret and live entertainment in different ways, so it’s a wonderful opportunity to reintroduce the show while staying true to what has made it so enduring: the glamour, the humour and the sense of joy.
How did the idea for the show come about in the first place?
The show was first introduced in 1998 after we recognised that there was something very special about that style of performance, the visual spectacle, the transformation, and the sheer entertainment value. We adapted and “Westernised” the format for UK audiences, introducing familiar music, pacing and, importantly, a strong sense of humour that would resonate with British audiences. That balance between Thai cabaret tradition and UK sensibility has remained at the heart of the show ever since.
Has the piece evolved in any way after all these years? If so, how and what’s new?
The show has evolved continuously over the years. We refresh it regularly with new music, updated choreography and new visual elements to keep it feeling current and exciting, whilst careful to retain the essence of what audiences expect with a sense of spectacle, fun and escapism.
What defines Thai cabaret and what makes it stand out from other forms of cabaret?
Thai cabaret is distinctive in its scale and visual impact. It’s rooted in large-scale revue performance, with elaborate costumes, precision choreography, and a strong emphasis on transformation. It’s highly visual, satirical, and not reliant on language, so it connects easily with audiences from different backgrounds. There’s also a wonderful sense of celebration running through the show.
How truthful does this show stay to the original art form?
The spirit of Thai cabaret is fun and diverse whilst accessible for international audiences. We incorporate music and references that UK audiences recognise, so it becomes a shared experience rather than something distant.
What particular challenges have you faced through this show, both recently and across its lifetime?
Any long-running touring production comes with challenges from changing audience expectations to the practical demands of touring. Recently, the live entertainment landscape has become increasingly competitive, with audiences having more choice than ever, and that encourages us to keep evolving and maintaining the quality and energy of the show.
When the show first began in 1998, the landscape was also very different to what it is today. This has always been a production celebrating gender-diverse performers in a large-scale commercial setting, often to predominantly mainstream audiences, which was relatively unusual at the time.
Over the years, it has been incredibly rewarding to see how audience attitudes have evolved. What may once have felt new or unfamiliar is now embraced as part of a broader and more open cultural landscape. In that sense, the show has quietly played a role in bringing this style of performance to wider audiences and helping normalise it within mainstream entertainment.
Are there any highlights that you would like to flag?
The longevity of the show is something we’re incredibly proud of. To have entertained more than one million people and to still be touring after more than 25 years is a real achievement.
Gandey World Class Productions has been instrumental in bringing new forms of performance to UK audiences for over 50 years, from introducing the Chinese State Circus in its modern touring format to developing Cirque Surreal in the 1990s, which helped bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary circus. We’ve created shows that tour internationally and are a unique performance culturally sensitive in varied oversea settings. That spirit of innovation and entertainment continues to underpin everything we do.
Why come see ‘The Ladyboys of Bangkok’?
Because it offers something genuinely different. While London has a growing cabaret scene, Ladyboys of Bangkok is a large-scale international revue experience that is unlike anything else currently playing in the city. It’s glamorous, funny, visually spectacular. And above all, it’s a joyful night out. It’s about bringing people together and giving them a chance to escape and simply enjoy themselves.
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The Lady Boys of Bangkok will play at London’s The Sabai Pavillion from 27 June to 12 July. Tickets are available on the following link.