Hairspray (musical) encourages individuality, acceptance and freedom. It is a musical that can be applied to any social context and time, as it highlights ongoing issues such as fat-shaming, racism and discrimination. It also explores femininity in terms of the female characters. Notably, Tracy’s mother, Edna Turnblad, is performed in drag during the shows. Allowing a drag role for Edna adds a queerness to the musical as it does not include any gay characters. Edna is considered to be the non-racialised other that is part of the story in Hairspray. The musical also challenges the societal norms of a female. The body
Dame Edna Everage becoming an Edna trademark – interaction with the theatre audience. In April 1976, Edna made an appearance in "A Poke in the Eye (with a Sharp Stick)" – the first of what became Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball series of benefit shows. Edna performed a song for the show and was featured in the film of the show. She also appeared in the 1981 Amnesty show "The Secret Policeman's Other Ball". Edna made a cameo appearance in the 1978 film "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". In 1979 she was the subject of a BBC "Arena" mockumentary: "La Dame aux