Review: Kate Butch Wuthering Shites at The Old Joint Stock

Drag Race UK star, Kate Butch is on tour across the UK with her new solo show, Wuthering Shites, visiting Birmingham’s Old Joint Stock for the first time on Friday 28th March. The premise of the show is that Kate has written a jukebox musical based on the songs of her name sake, Kate Bush, and now she needs the audiences’ help to get ‘Bush!’ (think Mama Mia! but wilder and weirder) to the West End and Broadway.

A combination of sharp stand-up comedy, live vocals and lip-syncing, the show is extremely clever, silly chaos that showcases the best of British drag. ‘Bush!’ also uses audience participation to fill some of the musical’s roles, bringing another level of comedy, especially if you’re learning about someone's one-eyed grandpa (if you know, you know).

Considering this jukebox musical has been created for purely comedy value, the plot is actually no more bizarre and the songs no more shoehorned in than some of the other musicals I’ve seen (naming no names).

Hilariously funny, high camp and intelligently written, Kate Butch is the comedy queen that will have you laughing from start to finish. So, why not join her on tour as she runs up that hill (and that building?), goes Cloudbusting, and of course dances across the moors in ‘Wuthering Shites’.

Due to popular demand, Kate Butch returns to The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham with Wuthering Shites on Wednesday 23rd April 2025. Tickets are still available. Kate Butch will also be visiting Warwick Arts Centre Thursday 24th April. Full tour dates are available on the Gag Reflex website. (If you know anyone in Luton, for Kate's sanity tell them to book a ticket, please)

This date was supported by comedian Joe Sutherland who was the perfect opening act with his hilarious takes on aging out of twinkhood as a gay man, in a comedy set that complimented Kate Butch’s own comedy style.

This review was written following a press invite to the production.