It’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially for festive entertainment.
While you’re bound to be booking in for a panto or your annual telling of A Christmas Carol, it’s worth looking for something a little different as well.
From cabaret and comedy to just plain creepy, we’ve rounded up some of the best alternative options for Christmas, with jingle bells on.
Showstoppers’ Christmas Kids Show
The completely audience led show returns and puts the kids (and only the kids) in charge. Showstoppers improvise a Christmas play based on suggestions shouted out by children in the audience, so this could really end up going anywhere.
December 2-30, Christmas in Leicester Square, christmasinleicestersquare.com
Away in a Stranger
Australian comic Sam Simmons brings a world premiere of his brand new festive show Away in a Stranger to the Soho Theatre. He invites you to witness the miracle of baby Greg and see in Gregmas Eve with a steaming mug of Gregnog – it’s going to be a weird one.
December 10-January 5, Soho Theatre, sohotheatre.com
How to Catch a Krampus
Flamboyant legends of London’s party scene Sink The Pink are spending their first theatre residency at the Pleasance. Drawing on the spooky Christmas tale, How to Catch a Krampus is darker than you’ll be used to but you’ll still get all the sass and spectacle you know and love. Written by drag queen Ginger Johnson, the show stars drag legend Lavinia Co-Op.
November 13-December 23, Pleasance Islington, pleasance.co.uk
CHERmas
Do you believe in life after Christmas? Cher does, so it’s time to celebrate. She’s the subject of the Kennington Cock Tavern’s Cher-off, where more than 10 cabaret acts will bring music, comedy and dance to pay tribute to everyone’s favourite diva.
December 6, The Cock Tavern, outsavvy.com
The Night Before Christmas
Anthony Neilson’s story of a broke father who has forgotten to buy his son a present contains a little bit of South Park with some Miracle on 34th Street and a dash of Scrooged. Neilson is known for his experimental shows and this unnerving comedy is perfect for anyone with a little of the Grinch about them.
November 28-December 29, Southwark Playhouse, southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Frisky & Mannish: Christmas!
Combining cabaret and comedy, Frisky & Mannish’s one-off show puts a spin on the Christmas classics you love and loathe. Pop music meets vaudeville meets sketch for one peculiar night. Hold onto your baubles.
December 17, Christmas in Leicester Square, christmasinleicestersquare.com
Liza Minelli’s Christmas Comedown
Here’s one for that lull between Xmas and New Year – Liza Minelli’s having a bit of a mare post-stuffing her face with Quality Street and pigs in blankets. Character drag queen Fagulous channels Liza to bring a line up of cabaret stars to help you through your Christmas comedown.
December 29, the Glory, theglory.co
A Gatsby Christmas
Glittering and covered in gold, the great Mr Gatsby hosts one of his infamous balls at the London Cabaret Club, with added festive cheer. The grand hall will transform into a winter wonderland, the perfect backdrop for a full-scale cabaret extravangza the man himself would have been proud of.
Throughout December, London Cabaret Club, thelondoncabaretclub.com
Vodka is the Reason for the Season
From her time as a singing elf in a nursing home to her childhood obsession with The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Tori Scott leads an autobiographical trail through her life and all that is special about the festive season. Expect lashings of Dolly Parton, Madonna and Michael Jackson in among the jests.
December 10, Crazy Coqs at Zedel, brasseriezedel.com
Hot Gay Time Machine
Come all ye gaythful, Zak Ghazi-Torbati and Toby Marlow are here for a night of cabaret that sleighs. Hot Gay Time Machine is a double act taking you through all the milestones of a gay man’s life, but with Christmas included. If you can’t imagine what it’s going to look like, imagine A Christmas Carol with fewer ghosts and more musical numbers.
November 27-January 5, The Other Palace, atgtickets.com
The Glory Christmas Variety Show
Jonny Woo hosts a humdinger of a festive knees-up at his East End boozer, but this is just the brandy butter on a month-long Crimbo pud of fabulous shows at the Glory. Watch out too for Wotever’s non-binary take on the Swedish Lucia festival, drag king sensations Boibox, Kings of Colour and Shesus, filthy fun from Baby Lame and Virgin Xtravaganzah. Look out also for Woo’s musical All Star Brexit Cabaret (with Le Gateau Chocolat as Nigel Farage) at the London Coliseum on December 17.
December 20-21, The Glory, theglory.co
Brats Kids Carnival
At weekends, the team behind the alt-circus-drag extravaganza Briefs present a kids’ show — expect the same brilliant buffoonery but not quite as naughty. (If you like it extra-naughty, though, they also do a late-night spin-off, Club Briefs.)
Until December 30, Christmas in Leicester Square, christmasinleicestersquare.com
Barb Jungr’s Festive Feelings
A warm and fuzzy Christmas set from the jazz singer, who combines moving musicality with barbed irreverence.
December 8, Bulls Head, thebullsheadbarnes.com; December 15, Vortex, vortexjazz.co.uk
The Cocoa Butter Club
Festive fabulousness from London’s pre-eminent company showcasing performers of colour, from compere Sadie Sinner’s songs to showgirls, sideshow and storytelling. It’s part of a Christmas cabaret season at the Roundhouse — look out too for work by Le Gateau Chocolat and Fagulous. Cocoa Butter Club is also at The Albany, Deptford, on December 6 and 7.
December 13, Roundhouse, roundhouse.org.uk
David Hoyle’s ReinDeAr
The incomparable David Hoyle gets into the spirit — expect deep love for outsiders living their own truth, and scorn for seasonal hypocrisy plus terrific guests Travis Alabanza and Drag Syndrome’s Horrora Shebang. Look out too for Mariah and Friendz at the same venue and Hoyle’s old muckers the LipSinkers at The Water Rats in King’s Cross.
December 19, Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, workersplaytime.net
Gary Williams: A Swingin’ Christmas
Expect toe-tapping yuletide contentment from the assured old-school crooner, with gags aplenty and holiday classics from Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and others. The chic venue also hosts Christmas shows from Miss Hope Springs, Clementine and Black Cat.
December 17-23, Live at Zédel, Brasserie Zédel, brasseriezedel.com
Winter with Glittery Clittery
Fierce, funny feminists Victoria Falconer, Tessa Waters and Rowena Hutson unleash some seriously sequined fun as part of the Southbank’s free festive cabaret season, which also includes sets by Mawaan Rizwan, Myra DuBois and an all-day drag extravaganza. Check out Falconer’s programme at the Bush, W12, too.
December 15, Southbank Centre, southbankcentre.co.uk
The Birdcage Cabaret
A classic combination of dinner, drinks, burlesque, drag, comedy, circus and magic. Hosts include Miss Polly Rae and you can expect a West End musical star or two to drop by.
Until December 20, Fest Camden, festcamden.com
