In our ongoing Edinburgh Fringe 2026 interview series, we are speaking to artists and creatives who are bringing their shows to the Scottish capital this summer.
In this interview, we speak with Harrison Sweeney about his show Final Queen.
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| Photo by Dan Rabin. |
What can you tell me about your show?
Final Queen is a genre-bending mash up of Priscilla Queen of the Desert and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It combines outrageous drag, extraordinary circus and deliciously camp horror in a fast paced spectacle packed with laughs, thrills, and plenty of fake blood.
Final Queen is a genre-bending mash up of Priscilla Queen of the Desert and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It combines outrageous drag, extraordinary circus and deliciously camp horror in a fast paced spectacle packed with laughs, thrills, and plenty of fake blood.
How would you describe the style of your show to anyone who has never seen you before?
Final Queen is a drag show with a twist. The style is very camp, Australian drag humour, with a healthy dose of circus. As the story takes us further into the horror genre, it blends in classic slasher tropes with physical comedy, acrobatics, and hula hooping. It’s a high energy, circus horror blood-bath laugh riot!
What makes 2026 the perfect year for this specific story or performance?
The world is increasingly a scary place for queer people to exist in. Showcasing the resilience of the ‘final girl’ trope as a drag queen reflects the resilience of queer people in the real world. We have had to fight so hard just to be able to live freely as ourselves. As people seek to take that away from us, we will continue that fight, even covered in sequins and blood.
How will you mentally and physically prepare for a run at the Fringe?
I’ve been training for a fringe run almost my whole life! From all the childhood dance classes, to adult life of long rehearsal days and performance seasons. I’ve also been practicing having a drink after the show at the fringe bar (I’m getting quite good at that one).
If you couldn’t use a flyer to attract audiences, what ridiculous object would you hand out to people to get them into your show?
A handful of glitter! A drag queen’s best friend and a stage manager’s worst nightmare. Although it contains no practical information about the show, it will line the bottom of your bag for years to come. Carry some camp around with you forever!
What is the one item in your Fringe Survival Kit that you can’t live without at the Fringe?
My massage ball. A circus performer’s best friend!
What would you deem as success at the end of the Fringe?
If Kylie Minogue came to see the show!
Other than your own show, are there any other shows you would recommend at the Fringe this year?
Some shows I’m super excited to see include Birds by Alex Hines and Sarah Stafford, Kinder by Ryan Stewart, and Yuck Circus. Can you describe the show in 5 words? Drag, Circus, Horror, Comedy, Kylie!
What keeps you inspired?
Seeing other shows! I love seeing what fun and crazy ideas are out there. From the world’s biggest arenas to tiny backroom pub theatres, I find inspiration in productions of all sizes (and budgets). You never know where the next idea comes from.
What would you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
I hope they experience the joy of drag, and share in the determination to fight for your dreams.
When and where can people see the show?
9:30pm, 5-30th August (no 17th and 24th), at Big Belly, Underbelly Cowgate.
Tickets are available from https://underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/event/final-queen
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| Photo by Anais Stewart |
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