THE DIVA SHOW
THE DIVA SHOW
Singing Cabaret Show / 1993-2001
The Diva Show saw Jeff impersonating an array of famous celebrity, mostly female singers in a live-singing and dancing slapstick routine, often with multiple costume changes taking place on stage in front of the audience. To great acclaim, it won a Reader’s Poll Award in 1994 from Boyz Magazine.
Throughout its run around the UK and Europe, it also transferred to Jeff’s Ladies Only show with the added twist of a self-penned stand-up comedy routine. Highlights included a week at Caesar's Palace, South London in 1996.
In 1999, Jeff hosted An Evening Out at Portsmouth’s The New Palace Theatre, raising funds for the charity Stonewall. In 2000, Jeff appeared as Cher at The Limelight Theatre in London’s West End to promote the release of the superstar singer’s Greatest Hits DVD.
Jeff did his civic duty performing for six Lord Mayors of London at Southwark Town Hall, where he famously danced in a gold corset as Madonna on their top table. He also created two weekly residential shows: a 1997-98 run at The Father Red Cap in Camberwell called Jeff Kristian's Mad Cap Hour and a 1997 season at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London called Stairway To The Stars, on which his guest Nicki French debuted her international hit record Total Eclipse Of The Heart. Featured interviews were published to promote the show in Metropolis Magazine (1993) and Translife Magazine (2000). In 1995, Jeff’s portrait in oils was painted by artist Stephen B Whatley.
In 1996, he began a new spin-off live-singing impersonation show Jeff Kristian As Cliff Richard, performing at venues in the south of England and Europe with a catalogue chosen from four decades of songs made famous by the veteran pop star. In 1999, he performed as Cliff for The Beacon Players at The Pavilion Theatre in Brighton, to raise much need funds for the Brighton Beacon charity. The show also starred Dave Lynn, Maisie Trollette and Dora Bryan.
Between 1996 and 1998, The Jeff Kristian And Julie Paid Show was a further spin-off, featuring live singing drag comedy impersonations of famous acts and singers, starring Jeff with fellow artist Alf Short (Ashes To Ashes) as Julie Paid. In addition to the Diva Show impersonations, this revue also featured Johnny Mathis, Boney M, Margot Fontaine, Bjork, The Weather Girls and most famously Agnetha and Frida from ABBA. It was featured on TV for Sky Adult Channel, hosting a live fundraising event for Elton John Aids Foundation at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London, as well as on ITV’s Club@Vision, performing at a nightclub in Romford, Essex. In 1998, they hosted the Cabaret Stage at London Pride and worked as residential hosts at Time & Envy Nightclubs in Romford, Essex.
Created, directed and produced by Jeff Kristian. THE JEFF KRISTIAN AND JULIE PAID SHOW CREATED, DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY JEFF KRISTIAN AND ALF SHORT.
PRESS
Julie Paid Magazine Interview / 19th April 2019
Julie Paid (aka Alf Short) was interviewed by Boyz Magazine in a feature called Me, Myself and I, about his career and working with Jeff.
"Julie Paid owes her misfortune to the wonderful talents of Jeff Kristian who asked me to join him on stage one night at the famous Father Red Cap, while he was doing his quick-change-on-stage show and I was his unhelpful sidekick, complete with a black satin maid’s uniform. Beautiful! We were very popular back then, believe it or not, and I did my apprenticeship under Ms Kristian. Bless him. It was the best grounding to have him as my teacher and I’m eternally grateful for all his effort, time and patience."
Jeff Kristian Magazine Interview / 8th October 2012
Stacy Novak interviewed Jeff for issue 42 of Transliving Magazine, where he speaks about his career, including The Diva Show.
“My first forays into Female Impersonation were literary portraying famous divas from the entertainment world, so I would dress specifically to mimic their styles and mannerisms.”
Jeff Kristian Magazine Interview / 6th July 2000
Translife Magazine published an in-depth interview with Jeff about his career and the ups-and-downs of performing on the UK's gay circuit in his creation The Diva Show.
"About the gay crowds, he's somewhat dispirited. The air of complacency amongst so many of the venues and audiences disconcerts him. "Sometimes I find the attitude towards drag on the gay scene a bit upsetting. Drag is part of the gay history of this country. It's a terrible shame. But (he shrugs a slightly disconsolate shoulder), it may change.""
Jeff Kristian Magazine Interview / 18th July 1998
Metropolis Magazine published an interview with Jeff about his career and The Diva Show.
"MM: What's the worst thing that's happened to you on stage? JK: 1987, a fight in the audience. A chair hit the mic and the mic chipped my tooth!"
CHARITY SHOW REVIEW / 13th February 1998
The South London Press ran an article to promote Jeff and Julie hosting a charity event at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London, raising funds for The Elton John AIDS Foundation.
“JP: It was such a fab night, just like the old days when we were all one big happy family. We had every name in the book here.”
The Diva Show Newspaper Review / 17th April 1997
Derek Smith of The Stage And Television Today newspaper published a review of Jeff's award winning cabaret creation The Diva Show.
"Jeff Kristian came on dressed to thrill - as Diana Ross first, then Tina Turner, Cher and Lulu. Described as not only a lookalike but a soundalike too, some of his impressions were designed to get belly laughs more than anything else. But there is no doubting his talent and even though you have seen this type of act countless times before, his has to be one of the better ones."
The Diva Show Magazine Review / 29th August 1996
Trans World Magazine published a review of Jeff's award winning creation The Diva Show.
"Anyone who had been fortunate enough to have been to one of Jeff's performances won't need me to tell then what a fantastic entertainer he is. The manner in which Jeff manages to cover every inch of the stage whilst still maintaining his wonderful singing voice is not only a tribute to his professionalism but to his physical condition as well. The brilliant impersonation of Dusty Springfield was particularly touching for me personally as I've been in love with Dusty for about thirty years."
Drag Queen Pride Trust Article / 1st July 1994
Capital Gay ran a report about an open letter from working drag queens to the Pride Trust, suggesting a boycott of the following year's Summer and Winter Pride events. Headed by Lily Savage and signed by David Dale, Regina Fong, Adrella and Jeff during his The Diva Show among many others, the letter speaks of a series of humiliations.
"The committee's failure to meet any of our basic needs indicates the level of contempt in which we are obviously held. We are very angry and we too have our own pride."
The Diva Show Magazine Review / 4th September 1994
Repartee Magazine ran a feature reviewing Jeff's cabaret appearance in creation The Diva Show.
"Jeff Kristian was brilliant. I hesitate to label him a drag act because he is in fact a marvellous impressionist. The most amazing thing about Jeff, however, is that his parodies were achieved using his own lovely singing voice. Jeff's costumes are spot on and his movement and presence around the large arena left me feeling breathless but it all appeared effortless to him." The Diva Show Magazine Review / 4th September 1994
Repartee Magazine ran a feature reviewing Jeff's cabaret appearance in creation The Diva Show.
"Jeff Kristian was brilliant. I hesitate to label him a drag act because he is in fact a marvellous impressionist. The most amazing thing about Jeff, however, is that his parodies were achieved using his own lovely singing voice. Jeff's costumes are spot on and his movement and presence around the large arena left me feeling breathless but it all appeared effortless to him."
Jeff Kristian Magazine Interview / 16th October 1993
Boyz Magazine interview Jeff for a series of features called Probe, interviewing working cabaret artists from the London scene.
"BM: Best thing about your job? JK: I think it's the freedom. I can do as I please and I love to sing. BM: Do you every pick up customers? JK: Only if they fall over in front of me. BM: What type of men do you go for? JK: Butch, clean, rough types who go by the name of Donkey. BM: Biggest regret? JK: Turning down a songwriting deal with a major record company. BM: Strangest thing you've ever been asked to do in bed? JK: Sign a contract."
Jeff Kristian Newspaper Interview / 4th August 1993
Daisy Waugh interviewed Jeff briefly about performing his award winning The Diva Show for an Evening Standard feature about the re-launch of Madame JoJo's Nightclub in Soho, London.
"But the Hen Nights are great. The ladies are so easy to please. The more you send up their gender, the more they like it."
GALLERY
