Jinkx Monsoon Is Serving Judy Garland Realness in London, and Queer Theatre Just Got Its Moment

When Jinkx Monsoon won "RuPaul's Drag Race" for the second time in 2022, crowned "Queen of All Queens," few could have predicted the trajectory that would follow. Yet here we are in late 2025, and the performer who once lip-synced for her life on a reality competition show is about to anchor a major theatrical production in one of the world's most prestigious theatre districts. The announcement that Monsoon will star as Judy Garland in "End of the Rainbow"at London's Soho Theatre Walthamstow is not just casting news—it's a cultural inflection point.

The production, running from May 15 to June 21, 2026, is directed by Rupert Hands and brings Peter Quilter's emotionally complex drama to life with a fresh vision. The play itself is set in London in 1968, capturing Garland at a pivotal moment—preparing for a series of concerts at the legendary Talk of the Town venue while grappling with personal demons, addiction, and the relentless pressure to perform. It's a role that demands vulnerability, vocal prowess, and the kind of emotional excavation that separates good performers from great ones.

For those who've been paying attention to theatre over the past two years, Jinkx Monsoon's ascent has been nothing short of meteoric. Born Hera Lilith Hoffer, the performer has shattered every ceiling placed before her, becoming the first and only drag queen to win "RuPaul's Drag Race" twice. But more importantly, she's proven that drag performance and theatrical legitimacy are not opposing forces—they're complementary skill sets.

Her Broadway debut was nothing short of a revelation; A critically acclaimed extended run in "Chicago," where she played Matron "Mama"Morton and broke box office records during a ten-week engagement. She's appeared in "Little Shop of Horrors" off-Broadway and earned a Drama League Award nomination for her role as Ruth in the Tony-nominated revival of "Pirates! The Penzance Musical." Recently, in Cole Escola's "Oh, Mary!" Monsoon played Mary Todd Lincoln and sold out her entire eight-week run, becoming a box office phenomenon.

Beyond theatre, Monsoon has expanded her reach into television, delivering what was described as a "masterful and frightening performance" as Maestro on the beloved British sci-fi series "Doctor Who" . In 2025, she headlined her first Carnegie Hall concert, which sold out entirely. This is not a novelty casting. This is a performer at the absolute height of her powers.

The significance of a drag queen headlining a major theatrical production about an LGBTQ+ icon cannot be overstated. Judy Garland occupies a unique position in queer cultural mythology. Her struggles with addiction, her fierce determination to perform regardless of personal cost, and her legacy as a symbol of resilience have made her a touchstone for generations of LGBTQ+ people. The Stonewall uprising itself was partly galvanized by her death just days before the rebellion erupted in 1969. To have a queer performer—specifically a drag artist who has built her career on the foundations of performance art, vocal excellence, and emotional authenticity—inhabit this role feels almost inevitable in retrospect.

"End of the Rainbow"is not a light entertainment. Quilter's play delves into Garland's final months with unflinching honesty, exploring the toll that a lifetime of performing takes on the body, mind, and spirit. The role requires an actor who can navigate both the glamour and the devastation, who can sing with technical precision while also conveying profound emotional pain.

Monsoon's vocal abilities are well-established. She's released three critically-acclaimed albums of original music written by collaborator Major Scales, and her live performances have consistently drawn praise for their technical sophistication and emotional depth. But what makes her particularly suited to this role is her demonstrated capacity for vulnerability. Her Broadway performances have shown an actor unafraid to sit with pain, to let audiences see struggle and fragility without sacrificing dignity or power.

The production itself carries weight. Director Rupert Hands is bringing a fresh vision to Quilter's text, and the creative team includes Prema Mehta as lighting designer and Tony Gayle as sound designer, with Leo Munby as musical supervisor. This is not a vanity project or a celebrity stunt casting. This is a serious theatrical endeavor with a serious creative team.

Monsoon's casting in "End of the Rainbow"opens doors. If a drag performer can successfully anchor a major production of a classical play in a prestigious London venue, what does that mean for the future of theatre? It suggests that the artificial boundaries separating different performance traditions are finally beginning to dissolve. It suggests that excellence is excellence, regardless of the performer's background or the venue in which they've previously performed.

Priority booking for the production opens on December 3, 2025, with public on-sale beginning December 4, 2025. For LGBTQ+ theatre enthusiasts, particularly those in Europe or planning a transatlantic journey, this production will be essential viewing—not just as entertainment, but as a cultural marker of how far queer performance has come and how much further it can go.

Jinkx Monsoon has spent her career proving that drag queens deserve a seat at every table. Now, she's claiming one on the London stage in one of theatre's most demanding roles. And the queer community will be watching, cheering, and finally seeing itself fully reflected in the highest echelons of dramatic art.