Feathers and Fabulousness with the Diamonds and Dust Company
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic
Dita Von Teese, the undisputed Queen of Burlesque, is bringing her seductive glamour to London this summer as she makes her directorial debut with a new show, Diamonds and Dust. Described as “a dazzling fusion of fantasy and femme power”, it offers Old West drama, showstopping performances and high-stakes spectacle.
At the heart of the show is Miss Kitty Le Roy – madam, gunslinger and heartbreaker, the dealer of destiny. Taking on this instantly iconic role is Faye Tozer, whose credits include being one-fifth of pop sensations Steps and runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing. She also has plenty of theatre credits to her name, including playing Miss Hedge in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in the West End and starring as Cruella de Vil in the UK tour of 101 Dalmatians the Musical.
Although she will only be appearing at selected performances, audiences will still very much feel the presence of Ms Von Teese – this is the Dita-verse after all, and our Queen has personally picked every costume and performer!
I went along to Sugar Studios in Greenwich for a preview of what we can expect from one of this summer’s hot tickets!
Our host for the afternoon was the absolute powerhouse that is Tosca Rivola. She’s the show’s creator and has also co-written, directed and choreographed, as well as performing in it. She welcomed us and talked a little about how excited she is to bring a show to London that fuses burlesque, dance, circus skills, stunts and theatre. Unlike other variety shows that showcase these skills, Diamonds and Dust has a strong narrative running through it. Tosca explained:
“There are so many beloved productions like Cabaret and Burlesque the Musical that are about our world, but they don’t cast us so I’m excited to make a show about our world that does, that puts our story on stage”.
Diamonds and Dust is being staged in the Emerald Theatre on London’s Embankment, which is being transformed for the production, so audiences can enjoy a full evening out in one venue. On arrival, there’s pre-show entertainment from musicians playing classic tunes from the Great American Songbook. You can choose a gourmet dining ticket and enjoy a meal with the show. Then afterwards, stick around for cocktails and party into the night with live music and international DJs, as the venue transforms into a club with a licence until the early hours of the morning! Tosca says it’ll be “the rowdiest saloon on the block!”
With over 100 costumes, Diamonds and Dust promises to be visually stunning. Jenny Packham has designed the gown for Dita Von Teese’s Lady Luck character, there’s footwear from Christian Louboutin and a host of big names coming together to help create the razzle dazzle.
The company entertained us with three numbers from Diamonds and Dust – a traditional burlesque number, Tosca’s phenomenal cirque act that saw her spinning on a giant hoop performing exceptional feats of strength and artistry, and a number featuring Faye Tozer as Miss Kitty Le Roy alongside three male members of the company. As Tosca explained, as this is a female driven show, “the boys may be fewer, but they are mighty!”
After the performance, I chatted to Faye about the show and why she is excited to be a part of it. Faye told me:
“I have been doing musical theatre for over 20 years now and it’s always exciting to take on different projects. My last show was 101 Dalmatians, that’s a real family show and I think I’m now grown up enough to do something a bit more sassy, a bit more spicey!
I actually started my dancing career as a showgirl so this is really nostalgic for me. This is a really important piece, it’s written about women by women and it’s about the REAL burlesque world and of course Dita Von Teese was a massive pull for me, I love the grit and the grind, the female aspect of it, it’s empowering it really was a no brainer!”
Faye also told me a little about her character, Kitty Le Roy, a real historic figure whose story has admittedly been embellished a little for the show. She was one of the first women to own a casino, The Mint in Texas. It’s still standing and apparently Kitty haunts the building! Faye said:
“Kitty was in showbusiness from the age of 13. She was a trick shot, a card slinger, and a show rider. And she went through a few husbands as well, using them as practical way of getting forward. She was really forward thinking for her time. She lived an incredible life for a woman in those days and it’s such an interesting story to tell and a character to try and embody.
The real Kitty wasn’t glamorous, fashions were very different back then, but we’re in the Dita-verse now!”
Because Kitty was a card slinger, Faye has had to work on card playing tricks, as well as some pistol rolling! She’s also the narrator, has put her dancing shoes back on AND gets to sing a few songs, so it’s a real triple threat of a show to be a part of.
Faye finished by summing up the appeal of Diamonds and Dust:
“It’s going to be a little bit of Vegas in the heart of London, London’s Wild West! It’s so much fun, so interesting, so luxurious and bougie, definitely worth a visit!”
Diamonds and Dust promises to be a fabulous night out. Giving the last word to its brilliant creatives:
Debbie Paul, Associate Choreographer: “The show is on a grand scale but it’s still so intimate. There’s something magical about performing in a small space, the seats at the front are going to have the sweat and energy of the performers on stage right there in front of them!”
Emma Henley, Co-writer: “There’s a lot going on out there in the world at the moment, it’s nice to go out dancing now and again”.
Matt Nicholson, Choreographer: “Come along for a camp old time. There’s glamour, dancing and burlesque at the very highest level, it’s such a feel good show”.
Tosca Rivola: “We want to usher in a new golden era! Most importantly, you’re here to have fun and take a one night vacation from whatever is bothering you!”
With a licence to party until 4am, I can’t wait to enter the Dita-verse and fully immerse myself in Diamonds and Dust. It’ll make a change not having to worry about missing the last train home, maybe instead heading to catch the first one the next morning, heels in hand and with memories of a very bougie night out!
Diamonds and Dust runs at the Emerald Theatre from 16th June until 28th September 2025. You can find out more, including Dita’s performance dates and options to dine while you enjoy the show, on the Diamonds and Dust website.
