A Very Naughty Christmas

It’s the show that puts the ho into ho ho ho, and it’s back for another very naughty season. Now in its eighth year of production, A Very Naughty Christmas is a big, bright, and brazen celebration of the holidays just for the grown-ups. This Christmas themed cabaret has sex appeal with a burlesque sense of humour, raunchy remixes of familiar festive tunes, comedic skits and banter, and some hilarious audience interaction.

If you’ve seen this show in its earlier days, you will notice a marked increase in production values. The show in its current form is looking and sounding very polished. The mood is set from the moment you enter the theatre, with the three-piece band at the rear of the stage playing upbeat tunes. The stage is framed by gorgeous light boxes featuring an atomic era style Christmas wrapping paper pattern, and sumptuous red velvet curtains. This gets the audience perfectly primed and ready for the moment Santa friends burst onto the stage.

The talented cast (Anthony Craig, Aurélie Roque, Daniel Erbacher, Emily Kristopher, Lachlan Greenland, Lauren Jimmieson, Steven Rooke, Taylah Ferguson) look festive and fabulous in their racy, sparkly costumes designed by Isaac Lummis. Their singing is heavenly, even when the lyrics are devilish and dirty. Their dancing is entertaining and proficient. They show excellent teamwork, professionalism, and trust and have everyone laughing from beginning to end with their bawdy debauchery.

Among an ensemble of excellent singers, Greenland and Roque’s vocals are a highlight. Kristopher and Jimmieson are great at singing and dancing, however they shine brightest through their comedy. Ferguson, Craig and Erbacher have excellent energy and commitment, with their dancing and physical comedy a highlight. Rooke as Santa is fearless and has a great stage presence and rapport with the audience.

Daniel Venz’s choreography and Emily Gilhome’s direction keeps things dynamic and interesting visually. They make great use of The Roundhouse’s many entrances and exits. Declan O’Neill’s lighting design enhances the exciting atmosphere. The creatives behind the show have done well to keep things current. This latest iteration lampoons recent questionable government decisions, shines a light on cost-of-living pressures and wealth inequality, and takes a dig at some well-known public figures.

While some of the humour might be too much for those easily offended, A Very Naughty Christmas is perfect for people who like a good dirty joke. It’s an entertaining festive treat and because it’s rewritten and updated each year, it’s the kind of show that audiences can return to again and again. Non-stop laughs, wonderful singing, dancing and comedy, great production values and a talented cast - it’s easy to see why this show has been a smash hit around Australia and in the UK.

Kitty Goodall

Photography by Joel Devereux