VELMA CELLI

As seen on Eastenders

JUST WON Best Cabaret at Perth Fringeworld 2024, AGAIN!

Known as “The UK’s Queen of live vocal drag”, Velma has been charming

audiences across the globe for the past 14 years.

The alter ego of West End star Ian Stroughair who has appeared in hit

musicals Cats, Fame, Chicago and Rent, to which he received critical

acclaim.

Velma’s “A Brief History of Drag” has entertained audiences across the

globe on a tours which included Australia (Best Cabaret Nomination in

Perth), 54 Below in N.Y.C, a sell-out U.K tour ending in a smash hit run at

the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

Cabaret hit show "Me and My Divas’ won BEST CABARET at Fringeworld 2020! He won the Three Week Editors show award for DIVALUSSION which he co wrote and starred along side Christina Bianco.

Velma frequents the world famous Atlantis Gay Cruises and headlines the ships entertainment alongside the likes of Todrick Hall and Audra

McDonald.

In 2015 Velma was invited to appear on BBC’s Eastenders for a very

special guest episode playing herself, starred opposite Danny Dyer

in the music short Nebraska, performed in concerts with pop icon

Anastacia and West End and Broadway legends Ruthie Henshall,

Kerry Ellis and Frances Ruffelle to name but a few.

He can also be spotted in American comedy series Piss Off, I Love You

and on the silver screen in The Night of The Lotus.

Velma is the headline act and MC of hit circus variety show Castellana.

He appeared in the Olivier award-winning circus show, La Soiree, fronted the

McDonalds “we are awake” campaign, was nominated for a Great British

Pantomine Award and has even performed privately for royalty.

The headline act for the BBC’s Best Of the Fringe closing night concert at the

Edinburgh Fringe 2015 and the winner of the coveted Three Weeks Editors

Award, a two-year long residency at The Hippodrome, London There isn’t

much Ian and Velma hasn’t done!