JADAR

★★★★☆

Last Friday, O2 Apollo Manchester was taken by storm as (Hurricane) Bianca Del Rio’s Dead Inside tour hit the stage. A night of no boundaries, it was as outrageous as it was unforgettable.

Bianca, the sharp-tongued, quick-witted queen, stole the hearts of fans worldwide after winning RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6. Known for her unapologetic humor and razor-sharp insults, Bianca’s latest show is a no-holds-barred spectacle that showcases her ability to blend biting social commentary with outrageous comedy.

With a fan base that spans across the globe, Bianca continues to push the boundaries of drag performance, reminding audiences why she’s one of the most beloved and unfiltered queens in the business. Dead Inside is a tour (de force) that not only pokes fun at life’s absurdities but also leaves no subject off-limits.

Opening the night was the wonderfully chaotic Mary Mac, whose hilarious roasting of Bianca, along with her singing and dancing, set the tone for what was to come. Mary’s performance was a riot, highlighted by a ‘dirty’ version of a Steps song and a rewritten version of ‘Maniac’ from Flashdance, transformed into ‘Mary Mac’.

For twelve minutes, she delivered impeccable choreography to the most random mix of songs—everything from ‘The Macarena’ to ‘Gangnam Style’, Katy Perry, ‘The Time Warp’, Chappel Roan, and even Irish step dancing—each time she belted out “And I’m dancing like I’ve never danced before.” It was absurdly brilliant.

After a short break, Bianca took to the stage. My viewing partner, unfamiliar with her, asked what to expect. I explained that Bianca was notorious for her roasting and known for being rude, sarcastic, and unapologetic. His reply: “Oh, I like that, as long as the jokes don’t cross the line.” Spoiler alert: for Bianca, there were no lines.

For the next 90 minutes, the audience was hit with a relentless barrage of jokes—hardcore racist, xenophobic, antisemitic, homophobic, ageist, sexist, and fatphobic one-liners. The atmosphere was thick with shock and guilty laughter, with the crowd torn between gasping in disbelief and cackling uncontrollably. Swear words flew like confetti, but it wasn’t just about profanity; it was Bianca’s sharp-edged ability to rip into every taboo topic imaginable without hesitation.

A standout example: throughout the show, Bianca picked on an audience member named Karen, who happened to be battling lung cancer. She dubbed her “Tthe cancer bitch who’s gonna die soon,” to “join Charles and Kate” before joking if she could also “borrow some cancer dust from her” to help her avoid looking at “an ugly faggot” in the second row. It was horrifyingly offensive—and yet, Karen herself was laughing.

The night’s victims also included a girl in a wheelchair, a woman with mental disabilities, and several other audience members, along with jokes about American politics, school shootings, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and the LGBTQ+ community (which is “A Ryanair flight number, not a community!”).

When reading out questions from the audience, she roasted a Polish girl for her accent, asking, “Didn’t you consider studying English instead of law?” The atmosphere oscillated between excitement and terror as people waited to be roasted, praying they wouldn’t be the next target.

Yes, the content sounds cruel—and in many ways, it was. But there was no malice. Bianca’s comedy, while cutting, is done without bad intent. It’s about challenging the boundaries of cancel culture, political correctness, and the overly polite, often dishonest way we avoid tough conversations. She doesn’t pick on one specific group; everyone gets a turn. It’s an equal-opportunity offense, and that’s part of why it works.

By the end of the show, Bianca invited Karen onstage, hugged and kissed her, and gave her the recognition she deserved for taking it all in stride. It was Karen’s wish, after all, to meet Bianca—”Make a Wish couldn’t take her to Disneyland?” Bianca quipped—before thanking her for being a good sport (“You asked for this, Karen!”).

Dead Inside is a no-holds-barred comedy show strictly for adults. If you’re easily offended, you’ll get your world turned upside down and dragged through the mud. Bianca will chew you up, spit you out, and then set you on fire. But if you’re ready for an unapologetic roasting that spares no one, you’re in for an unforgettable night. Just don’t sit in the first few rows—unless, of course, you’re a masochist.

Not PC at all? I beg to differ. Bianca Del Rio is still “Pretty Cunty”.

Bianca Del Rio tours the UK with Dead Inside until September 25 2024, mainland Europe until from September 28 until October 25 2024, and the world from October 31 2024 until February 17 2025.