BUOYED by a sell-out opening to her residency at The Basement in York, Velma Celli will return on April 8 for another night of spectacular songs, sequinned gowns and special guest Kiki deVille in "the classiest cabaret in town".

Velma Celli is the drag creation of York-born West End performer Ian Stroughair, who specialises in powerhouse-voiced interpretations of myriad musical styles, from musical theatre to retro-pop.

"We all had a fantastic night for the first of my monthly shows on March 11, with some great tunes," says Ian. "The Basement at City Screen is a great, intimate venue where, as a performer, you feel the audience’s energy bouncing back at you.

"The second show will feature a similar array of music, fast costume changes and amusing anecdotes, so I hope that many of those who came to the first show will be back, meaning that it would be wise to get tickets quickly, as I’m hoping to sell out the whole residency!"

Where The Velma Celli Show stands out from other drag shows is the quality of the vocal performances, reckons Ian, without wishing to sound boastful. "We’ve all seen drag queen lip-synching along to other artists, but let’s face it, that’s cheating, isn’t it?

"My audience loves the fact that it's a real stage show, with live accompaniment for many of the songs. No electronic effects or auto-tuned, just the results of two decades of vocal training and stage performances. Think Barbara Streisand at the Hollywood Bowl, but on a much more intimate scale!"

Velma’s guest for show number two is Miss Kiki deVille, Australia’s sweetheart. "The audience will recognise Kiki from The Voice, where she joined Will-I-Am’s team for season three," says Ian. "With a dazzling smile, comedic timing and an incredible vocal talent to match, Kiki is one of the country’s favourite showgirls: a regular on the burlesque scene, performing a rolling rock of rhythm and blues."

Tickets for The Velma Celli Show cost £15 online at picturehouses.com/cinema/York_Picturehouse/film/the-velma-celli-show and are on sale for both April 8 and May 13. Doors open at 7.30pm for the 8pm start each night.