Peter Quilter's End Of The Rainbow Was A Hit At The Soho Theatre
Peter Quilter's End of the Rainbow premiered at the Soho Theatre in Walthamstow, with a star from RuPaul’s Drag Race in the main role of Judy Garland. Jinkx Monsoon elevated the show beyond a biopic, with an undeniable stage presence that really drove the story home.
Author:James RowleyJun 24, 20261 Shares65 Views
Peter Quilter's End of the Rainbow premiered at the Soho Theatre in Walthamstow, with a star from RuPaul’s Drag Race in the main role of Judy Garland. Jinkx Monsoon elevated the show beyond a biopic, with an undeniable stage presence that really drove the story home.
FIRST LOOK: Jinkx Monsoon Transforms Into Judy Garland in 'End of the Rainbow' London
About The Hit Show And Its Production
The theatre show End of the Rainbowis set in London and showcases Judy Garland’s life as a performer. It shows her navigating her relationship with her fifth husband, Mickey Deans, as well as the connection she had with her loyal pianist, Anthony.
Jasmine Swan was the production designer, and she also worked on all of the costumes. The outfits were nothing short of stunning, and the set allowed for some very quick costume changes as well.
Swan’s set included fabric-covered steps around a grand piano, which helped the scene to feel opulent and luxurious before the set even started. End of the Rainbow is a full theatrical show, though, according to recent reviews, it suffers from some repetition. However, Monsoon helps to keep audiences engaged, and she does a great job at making sure that the characters feel respected, rather than going over the top with theatrics.
Some of the songs that were played at the Soho Theatre include Just in Time. Audiences were also treated to renditions like You Made Me Love You, which are all woven into the story as things unfold. Swan chose to go with a monochromatic colour palette at times, and this provided a great contrast against Garland’s public image, which was glamorous with an emphasis on stardom at the time.
Highlights From "End of the Rainbow"
The Show Finished With “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”
The closing moment saw Monsoon cover Somewhere Over the Rainbow, an iconic song that is a tribute to Garland’s legacy.
The song, which was released in 1939, is a powerful finale for the show. Even though the song is greatly tied to the classic movie, it does carry a lot of cultural significance. Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg used it as a way to capture a symbol of hope. Throughout history, however, rainbows have served as bridges between worlds.
In Norse mythology, Bifrost connects to Earth via a rainbow bridge. In Irish folklore, rainbows link to hidden treasure. Movies like Leprechaun feature the idea of pots of gold and the beings that protect them.
In iGaming, those who play titles like Rainbow Richeswill also see that the rainbow is connected to the mythical characters and their symbolism in Irish folklore.
As rainbows often serve as a link to a world beyond our own, they feature so much across different historical contexts. More recently, rainbows have been a sign of LGBTQ+ pride and self-acceptance, making the connection with Garland resonant, especially when you consider how much of an icon she is for the community.
That’s why it hits so hard when Jinkx Monsoon ends the show on this song, because it’s not only a reminder of her most famous role but also an example of how much of an influence she has been for LGBTQ+, making for an incredibly satisfying finale.
James Rowley
Author
James Rowley is a London-based writer and researcher covering London life, cultural geography, and selected public figures across entertainment, sport, business, and public life.
For over 15 years, he has focused on verified sources, first-hand local context, and clear explanations that help readers understand both places and people more deeply. His work combines street-level London knowledge with careful research into career credits, media work, business interests, and, where relevant, transparently explained net worth estimates.
He writes every article published on London Webcam.
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