Alyssa Edwards, Glee Club, Birmingham - review

Fans at the second city's Glee Club were treated to an hour-and-a-half set from the queen, played by Texas drag artist Justin Johnson, four years after her World of Wonder programme began.

Presented by popular drag promoters Klub Kids, the show was opened by a variety of up-and-coming performers showcasing a range of talents.

From the electric energy of dance extraordinaire Scarlett, to a weird and wonderful Mighty Boosh-inspired number from Newcastle upon Tyne's Mutha Tucka, fans were left shocked and delighted at the perfect blend of comedy and dance delivered on stage.

Birmingham's own Yshee Black dazzled local fans with a high-octane number, mixing religious songs with famous dialogue of gay characters from different TV shows and films.

The bizarre performance had fans laughing hysterically and dancing along to the upbeat tunes creating an electric atmosphere for the show.

As well as the support acts, Klub Kids host Andrew Hoyle joined in with entertaining the audience, delivering sharp one-liners and hosting an outstanding dance competition for Brummie fans to win a backstage meet and greet with the headlining queen herself.

Hit song What's Up by 4 Non Blondes blared across the sold-out crowd, as Alyssa Edwards entered the room in a glittering blue and pink fur coat with perfectly-coiffed hair and stunning makeup.

Alyssa was truly captivating from the minute she took to the stage. She wasted no time in getting to know her audience, walking straight through the crowd during her first number, lapping up the screams and cheers from her loving fans.

One crowd member got more than he bargained for after he was pulled on stage with orders from Alyssa to sensually remove her coat. Not only was Alyssa's look enthralling, her sense of humour was also instantly endearing and captured the audience's attention effortlessly.

"Its brilliant to be here Birming-um," the queen shouted, to laughter from the crowd as she imitated the local accent.

"See in America we have Birming-ham, but Andrew here has told me all about how you don't like being called that."

Alyssa's Secret - the digital series - sees the queen tackle a variety of different subjects, while not really tackling them at all as she regularly goes off-topic with hilarious consequences.

Her live show was no different with the queen quickly flitting from topic to topic, inducing fits of laughter from the crowd with her strange quirks, conversational tone and heaps of southern charm.

"Andrew asked if I was going to use a script, and I said 'no of course I'm not, I'm just going to get up here and talk to myself'," the queen told the crowd, and it was this conversational tone that made the show a real stand-out in a time where drag shows are becoming ever-popular.

Her laid-back approach to the show made the evening feel more like the crowd had gone for dinner to catch up with a long-lost school friend, rather than settled down for a structured performance.

From tales of her and fellow Drag Race star Shangela blagging their way into first-class flights, to tales of her Drag Race experience, Alyssa wowed fans with charming insights into the star's extraordinary and hilarious life.

The queen ended the show with a question and answer session with fans, answering everything from 'why don't fish die when lightning hits the sea?' to addressing fans queries regarding RuPaul's recent quotes regarding transgender queens competing on Drag Race.

"To me all drag is drag. My drag, Mutha's drag, this girls drag, and all of your drag. Everybody say love" the queen proclaimed, to heartfelt cheers from her fans.

Alyssa closed the show with a performance of a previously-unreleased single of hers, accompanied by the dance competition winners from earlier in the show.

It is no secret that Alyssa Edwards is a dazzling queen and she left the Birmingham crowd breathless from her hilarious tales and exceptional performance skills.