Thai “ladyboys” say viral street brawls with tourists often start with disrespect and drunken rows, but backstage at their glitter-soaked London show Full Moon they insist on an important message
Ladyboys in Thailand have been hitting back at badly behaved tourists in a string of viral street brawls. Now some of the performers bringing that same fearless energy to London say the message is simple: show respect, or don’t be surprised when people defend themselves.
I went to see The Lady Boys of Bangkok’s brand new show Full Moon at London Shepherd’s Bush and caught up with three of the stars: Appo, Oak and Jubilee.
And while their on-stage world is all glitter, pop bangers and cheeky laughs, they were clear that the real-life violence grabbing headlines back in Thailand often starts with tourists pushing their luck.
“There [are] kinds of people from other countries that do not respect [us] enough,” Jubilee, a breathtaking ladyboy told me. “That’s why they [fight back].
“Thai people are really kind and humble, but when we are not [respected] I think it is not right that the people like to attack us, we have to protect ourselves.” In March this year, a tourist was savagely beaten by a group of ladyboys in Patong, Phuket, the Daily Star previously reported.
Another recent case saw British tourists reportedly brawling with Thai ladyboys in Pattaya after an alleged row over missing money, following claims the holidaymakers had taken sex workers back to a villa. People who work the nightlife scene say these fights often come down to the same triggers: payment disputes, theft accusations and disrespectful behaviour.
But in West London, the vibe could not be more different. The show runs on Shepherd’s Bush Green from June 27 to July 12 inside the company’s “Sabai Pavilion” – , a custom-built, pink cabaret tent with table seating, plush carpeting and well-stocked bars.
Full Moon features nine ladyboy performers, four male dancers and a drag host, promising chart-topping hits, big comedy moments and around 400 costumes. The production has been going since 1998 and has entertained more than a million people, with famous faces over the years including Rylan Clark, Russell Tovey, Gail Porter, Katie Price and stars from Coronation Street and Gogglebox.
My verdict? Mesmerising costumes dripping in sparkle, impeccable dancing, and lip-syncing so confident you don’t even care if every word matches perfectly. It’s hilarious, glamorous and weirdly chic – like a boudoir circus where the “clowns” are towering drag queens and the ringmasters are jaw-droppingly beautiful.
Honestly, some of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever seen in my life. Backstage, the performers were warm and funny – and proud of what they do.
Oak introduced himself simply: “Hi, I’m Oak.” Jubilee added: “I’m Jubilee.” Appo smiled: “Hello. I’m good, thank you.”
Asked what a “ladyboy” is, they explained it as living in the form their heart feels – being the woman they want to be. Oak said a key difference from drag is that anyone can be a drag queen, but ladyboys are “kind of like transgender”.
They also revealed how much work goes into the sparkle. All three said they make their own outfits, with one explaining they have nearly 200 designs and “everything glittering, shimmering, beautiful”.
A single costume can take two or three months. Appo told me she’d been performing for three years, adding: “Normally I just like to dance, like to wear a beautiful dress, like to put on make up.”
And they want Brits to understand there’s far more to ladyboys than the tired stereotypes. “I want to say… you should change your mind,” Jubilee said.
“The ladyboys [are not just sex workers].” So yes, Thailand’s nightlife can turn nasty when tourists behave badly – but in Shepherd’s Bush, the ladyboys are serving something else entirely: pure escapism, joy, and a party you’ll remember long after the glitter’s washed off.
As Oak put it: “Our goal every night is simple – we want people to forget about their worries, laugh, dance in their seats and leave with a big smile on their faces.”
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