Peter Searle, professionally known as Peter Steadman, who as ‘Adrella’ was a huge star of the cabaret circuit from the mid-70s and directly inspired many of those who are part of the current drag revival, died at the age of 56 after many years of illness.Adrella worked both solo and with partners such as Lily Savage, David Dale, Ebbonknee and Ruby Venezuela. An old-school drag act, who mostly mimed to show tunes, he was best known for his Liza Minnelli routine.He was also a Eurovision fanatic and even juror for the UK’s judging panel in 2008. For a while, during the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, he was one of the most adored performers on the gay scene and did so much charity work that in 1987 he was given an award by the Terrence Higgins Trust.Tragically his ill-health resulted in an early retirement and less recognition than he deserved. He made a comeback, delighting new audiences with his almost undiminihed star quality.The son of a policeman, Searle claimed that he was raised in a police station in the middle of Hyde Park and that he was still living there in 1975, when he entered a talent competition at the Black Cap.He popped briefly into the West End in 1982, when he appeared in La Vie en Rose at the La Vie, formerly the Windmill Theatre. But he will be remembered by most as one of the great gay scene acts, especially for his work at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.There are many recordings, notably of Adrella’s Nativity at Christmas, 1987, a show that drove the crowd wild. He also made numerous TV appearances on game shows, including Treasure Hunt, Talkabout, the Weakest Link and 15 to 1.Adrella’s last big success was ‘Camp Camp’, which he produced at Butlin’s, Skegness, in 1991. A follow-up was abandoned. Searle later wrote, “The second one collapsed after Butlin’s withdrew, due to negative press affecting their bookings [reports linked the event to the AIDS scare], and in-fighting between the two companies who produced the first event.” Adrella continued to host the RVT’s Sports Days. But subsequently Peter’s health deteriorated.(Text from QX Magazine 2012)