A Very Naughty Christmas at Southwark Playhouse: A cracking show (in more ways than one)
Disclaimer: This review is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18
I’m not sure what I was expecting but it definitely wasn’t this...
A Very Naughty Christmas at Southwark Playhouse is a festive show, you won’t forget in a hurry - for reasons that are both naughty and nice.
The show which has achieved cult status in Australia is a winning combination of cabaret, burlesque, and panto.
Combining songs, sex, and Santa in the best way possible. Think Rocky Horror meets the Full Monty but with elves - and dildos.
The gag of the night was when a naughty Mrs Claus, proceeded to pull a rabbit out of a hat (all puns intended.)
With a brave, brash, and bootylicious cast, this isn’t the sort of show you’d see with your parents - or your colleagues (unless you’re inappropriately close.)
In fact, the spectacle is probably best kept between close friends - or partners.
The first part is incredibly crass but after a little bit of musical foreplay, the show settled into a more satisfying rhythm.
There were parts of the performance that left me blushing, parts that had me clenching my toes and cringing, and several parts that had me checking my boyfriend’s gaze.
The cast of A Very Naughty Christmas, is sexy, talented, and ho-ho-hilarious, with divine comedic timing, and a dry sense of humour that left the audience wetting themselves.
The festive production features wonderfully witty original songs such as Santa Loves You Less Because You’re Poor, alongside parodies of festive classics. You don’t want to know what he saw mummy doing with Santa Claus.
A personal highlight was the deeply sacrilegious retelling of the Nativity - which involved participation from some brave audience members (not me.)
I don’t want to give the game away too much about what to expect, so I’ll leave you with this quote from my plus one: “Bold, outrageous, and hilariously well-written. Witty with a tint of titty. Not for the faint-hearted. It took a few minutes to find its legs but once it found them it stood on all three.”
Catch A Very Naughty Christmas at Southwark Playhouse throughout December and January. Nearest tube station: Elephant & Castle.