This Christmas, Divina De Campo will be playing The Enchantress in the Beauty and the Beast pantomime at BEAM in Hertford from Friday 5th December until Sunday 4th January 2026, which also stars Nerine Skinner, Mama G, Tom Brace and Lucy Ireland. Over the summer, Divina played Princess Diana in The Diana Mixtape in both London and Salford, and she previously played Sheldon J. Plankton on the UK Tour of The SpongeBob Musical and hosted the main stage of West End Live earlier this year with her SpongeBob co-star Hannah Lowther. Divina starred as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Leeds Playhouse, and won Best Performer in a Musical at the 2022 UK Theatre Awards for her portrayal of the character, and she made her musical theatre debut in Chicago the Musical UK Tour as Mary Sunshine. Recently, Divina was touring in Dragged to the Musicals with fellow drag performers Veronica Green, Le Fil, Mimi Chanel and Viola, and it has been announced that Divina will be touring in the new year for the Back on the Road Tour with Ric ‘the Piano Guy’ Neale. On the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019, Divina was announced as the runner-up, and she started her TV career as a judge on All Together Now. Alongside her fellow All Together Now judge Michael Auger (Collabro), they host the podcast Stagedoor with Michael and Divina, where they chat to a range of artists involved with the arts such as actors, directors and singers. Answering our questions, we found out from Divina about playing The Enchantress in the upcoming Beauty and the Beast pantomime at BEAM in Hertford, her time touring as Sheldon J. Plankton in The SpongeBob Musical, starring as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, being the runner-up on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and the Stage Door With Michael and Divina podcast.

Over the festive season, you are playing The Enchantress in Beauty and the Beast at BEAM in Hertford, what do you think the character will be like to play and have you played the role previously?

I’m so excited to get my teeth into The Enchantress, she’s a really interesting character because she isn’t wholly good or bad, she’s more like a Greek god than any other character in the panto canon because she has her own agenda and isn’t always kind or cruel. She wants the best for everyone but doesn’t always go about it in the best way. So I’m excited to explore that!

Do you have a favourite aspect of performing in pantomimes and what are you looking forward to for this year’s run?

My favourite thing about panto is the audience and the magic it creates for them. For most people, panto is their first experience of the theatre and that comes with a certain responsibility as a performer to give them your absolute best every single time. To really make it magic!

What is it like seeing the family audiences getting involved during a pantomime?

That’s the best thing about panto – hearing people boo, cheer, laugh, sing, clap. The audience are as important as the people on stage and if you do it right, they really enter into the panto world with you.

How do you typically prepare for pantomimes and how different do you find them to standard musical theatre productions and your own shows?

Honestly, I approach them in much the same way as I would a musical theatre show. The script is the bible and you have to really understand the character so the audience can see who they are. There are slightly ‘looser’ rules with a panto script so there is room and space for changes and adding more detail or jokes in but the framework of it has to stay true.

How has it been meeting the rest of the cast for the first time and reading the Beauty and the Beast script?

It’s incredibly exciting getting into the room with all these fantastically talented singers, actors and dancers. I am always so aware of how lucky I am to be surrounded by these amazing people.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see Beauty and the Beast at BEAM in Hertford, which is booking from Friday 5th December until Sunday 4th January 2026?

First off…… I’m in it! Hahaha it’s going to be a dazzling feast for the eyes and ears and the best thing is there’s something for all the family! Whether you’re three or 103, this show is for you!

Can you tell us about your time performing as Princess Diana in The Diana Mixtape in London and Salford this summer?

Honestly, this was so much fun, it was very much a drag dedication of love to Diana. She was the most amazing woman and had such a huge impact on the country culturally. The show itself was unbridled joy and celebration of the people’s princess.

What was it like taking on the role of Sheldon J. Plankton on the UK Tour of The SpongeBob Musical, and how was it hosting the main stage of West End Live earlier this year alongside your co-star Hannah Lowther?

I adore Hannah, she is so talented and one of the most dedicated working people I have ever met. I have a heavy work schedule but she makes me look positively lazy!

Sheldon was so much fun, a much more masculine role for me, with an extraordinary speed rap, but the best part for me was the comfortable shoes, lol.

How was your experience starring as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Leeds Playhouse, and what was it like winning the award for Best Performer in a Musical at the 2022 UK Theatre Awards?

Hedwig was a gift. The entire team brought their A game and it was the most extraordinary experience performing that role every night.

I was so shocked that this little kid from Brighouse who sings silly songs in heels won an award for what had felt like a joy start to finish. It was a real cherry on top moment.

What was it like making your musical theatre debut in the UK Tour of Chicago the Musical and what was Mary Sunshine like to play?

I adore Chicago. I always have, I honestly think it’s one of the most perfect musicals there is. Mary, again, isn’t really what she seems and so it makes her a lot of fun to perform. She’s complicated and surprisingly nuanced. I had the best team as well, people I admire and now can call friends: Darren Day, Faye Brookes, Sinitta, Djalenga Scott, and my absolute love, Joel Montague!

You have recently finished touring with Dragged to the Musicals alongside Veronica Green, Le Fil, Mimi Chanel and Viola, how did the run go?

I’m very aware that this whole interview is me talking about joy lol but it was……… a joy! The audiences were wonderful and most nights we had a standing ovation! So lucky to work with these amazing artists!

It has been announced that you will be touring in the new year on the Back on the Road Tour with Ric ‘the Piano Guy’ Neale, what can you tell us about this?

I’ve worked with Ric for over 10 years, he is a songwriter and artist. He’s also hilarious and super talented. So this show is a bit of chaos! The audience will pick the songs and be in charge! Expect madness and fun!

In 2019, you were the runner-up on Series 1 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, what do you feel you learnt from being a contestant and what are some of your favourite memories from filming?

I learnt to believe in myself and stay true to my vision. Not everyone is going to ‘get it’ and that’s fine because once you’ve made whatever it is your making, it so often becomes clear to everyone else. So yeah, trust yourself and go make things happen!

At the start of your TV career, you were a judge on All Together Now, what was this like to do?

So wonderful! All those egos and personalities all in one room! All those people I’d never have been able to meet without that circumstance and lots of us are still friends and WhatsApp each other regularly!

Can you tell us about your Stage Door With Michael and Divina podcast that you host with Michael Auger and how did it come about?

We are so lucky! We get to chat with so many people from across the industry – actors, singers, dancers, choreographers, directors, circus performers… all kinds of different people all with their own stories and experiences and advice! It’s perfect for anyone who loves the arts!

Where does your love of drag and performing come from and how did you get started in the industry?

I’ve always sung, ever since I was in reception singing like a foghorn in assembly! I then saw my first show and was hooked. I went to ballet class and was in every show I could manage. I have been so lucky to do so many different things in the industry and love that the most. That’s part of why I do drag, it allows you to explore sewing, choreography, song, mime, styling, directing. Anything and everything.

What are some of your favourite theatre shows to watch and which would you like to see that you haven’t done so as yet?

I went to see OSCAR at The Crown the other day and loved it! Not a clue what was going on but it is wonderful! I love anything with great music and singing. I’m seeing Hadestown soon and can’t wait!

How do you like to spend your free time?

I don’t get much but I love exercising, reading, playing computer games and listening to podcasts.

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