A new comedy inspired by the life of the late Paul O'Grady and his legendary drag alter ego Lily Savage has been announced. The production, titled Savage, will make its world premiere at Leicester's Curve theatre in 2027 before embarking on a UK tour, including a stop at Liverpool Playhouse. Created with Paul's blessing before his death, the play is written by multi-award-winning playwright Jonathan Harvey.
Danny Beard to Star as Lily Savage
The production will star Halewood-born RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard in the title role. The play charts Paul's journey from his working-class upbringing in Birkenhead to becoming one of Britain's most recognisable performers. Armed with little more than a sharp wit, a wig and an uncompromising sense of humour, he created Lily Savage – the fearless, foul-mouthed drag queen who captivated audiences across the country.
Before becoming a household name, Paul first performed as Lily at a gay pub in Camden in 1978. Inspired by the women in his family, the character quickly developed a reputation for razor-sharp comedy and outspoken views, particularly on LGBT+ issues. After struggling to find regular work in London, Paul toured the North before eventually returning to the capital and building Lily's reputation through performances at venues including the Elephant and Castle and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
Meeting the 'Real' Lily Savage
As the new production prepares to celebrate Lily's extraordinary rise, it also revives memories of one of the most unusual episodes from the character's history. More than 30 years ago, Paul came face-to-face with 'the real' Lily Savage – an 81-year-old great-grandmother from Port Sunlight who happened to share the same name. In 1994, BBC researchers tracked down the Wirral pensioner while producing a new series called Life Swap. The programme paired people with their opposites and followed them as they exchanged lifestyles for a day.
Cameras accompanied both Lily Savages as they swapped worlds, with the great-grandmother trying her hand at television presenting while Paul, in character, enjoyed a day of bingo, hair appointments and chatting with local residents. Speaking at the time, the real Lily Savage said she had known little about her famous namesake before the BBC contacted her. Encouraged by her family to take part, she later described the experience as 'fantastic' and said Paul had sat down for a cup of tea 'as if he was one of the family.'
Quotes and Reactions
Chatting to ECHO reporter Paddy Shennan in November 1994, Lily said: 'I didn't know anything about the other Lily until about two weeks before the BBC rang me out of the blue. One of my granddaughters arrived one day with a poster of her or him. I hesitated at first when the BBC asked me if I would appear on TV with Lily, but my family said: "Go on, mum. You've got nothing to lose." They came down for the filming and stayed from 9am to 7pm. It was a fantastic day and I'd do it all again. Lily came in and sat chatting over a cup of tea as if she was one of the family.'
Paul was equally delighted by the encounter. He recalled being amazed that the BBC had managed to find another Lily Savage living so close to his Merseyside roots. He said: 'We had a ball. Lily was great, she really got into it.' The meeting became one of the more unusual moments in the history of a character who went on to dominate British television throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. From drag club stages and VHS releases to primetime TV shows, Lily Savage evolved from a local comedy creation into a national institution.
UK Tour Dates and Ticket Prices
Now, with Savage set to bring Paul's story to a new generation, audiences will once again be reminded of the humour, resilience and originality that transformed a boy from Birkenhead into one of Britain's most loved entertainers. The UK tour dates are as follows: 13 February – 6 March 2027 at Leicester Curve; 16–20 March 2027 at Liverpool Playhouse; 23–27 March 2027 at Salford Lowry; 30 March – 3 April 2027 at Canterbury Marlowe; 6–10 April 2027 at Bath Theatre Royal; 13–17 April 2027 at Norwich Theatre Royal; and 20–24 April 2027 at Birmingham Hippodrome. Tickets begin at £17 and go up to £51.
