Sharon Needles: Celebrity Morgue, Glee Club, Birmingham - review

The RuPaul's Drag Race season four winner treated fans to a night of live music and comedy in Celebrity Morgue, a show the explored the work of deceased celebrities.

First up to warm the crowd however was Scottish queen Rujazzle with two delightfully weird lip sync numbers to set the tone of the ghoulish evening.

Celebrating 'the idiots of America' and the horror film tradition of the scream queen, Rujazzle blended glamorous choreography and costumes with weird and wonderful tongue-in-cheek comedy that deserved the raucous applause she received.

One hand with pointed black nails reminiscent of Nosferatu appeared from behind the blood red background curtain, and the room screamed. Sharon Needles was here, dressed head-to-toe in funeral attire and looking drop dead gorgeous.

"We're here to celebrate two of my favourite things - celebrity and death," the queen cackled after a rendition of her own song Andy Warhol Is Dead, joined by her pianist playing the part of long-deceased musician, singer and actor, Liberace.

From Prince's Nothing Compares to You through to The Velvet Underground's Candy Says and Whitney Houston's I Have Nothing, Sharon showcased a jaw-dropping vocal range and tone as she took these iconic hits and made them her own.

As well as her sheer musical talent, the queen had to room roaring with laughter as she imparted tales of how she met her husband, her love for Lou Reed, hate for technology, and her break-up with fellow Drag Race star and former lover, Alaska.

The most simple of facial expressions or dramatic pauses had the audience giggling, and her banter with Liberace only added to the comedy factor and intimate style of the show.

The gold jumpsuit-donning pianist also treated fans to his impeccable voice, with an awe-inspiring Michael Jackson medley and a hair-raising cover of Queen's We Are The Champions.

As well as being entertaining, Sharon provided a series of thought-provoking moments in the show as she spoke earnestly about transgender icons Laverne Cox and Amanda Lepore and her love for female empowerment - though the evening never strayed far from her outrageous style of comedy as she dived into a series of shockingly hilarious jokes about Caitlyn Jenner.

Ending on an outstanding cover of David Bowie's Space Oddity, Sharon Needles well and truly deserved the standing ovation she received from many members of the crowd.

Celebrity Morgue is a comedic yet poignant look at some of the world's greatest musical icons from the perspective of a truly talented ghoul.

If you see one drag show this year, make it this one.