The thing we love about a South Wales festive season is that we are spoilt for choice with our seasonal entertainment. Sometimes however, we want to step away from the norm and jump into a winter wonderous land filled with the a story and performers who would make your grans hair curl, without the need for a set of rollers.
It’s a welcome back to the Weston Studio in the Wales Millennium Centre to the team who have shocked, thrilled and pleasured us with two previous sell out shows. They are back this year for one last time – and they’re going out with a bang with a naughty take on the tale of the very first Christmas.
This is festive magic with a twist, to say the least. THE FIRST XXXMAS: A VERY NAUGHTY-TIVITY brings together drag, burlesque, circus, comedy and so much more, with a cast of players who have delighted audiences with their unique take on this very joyful time of the year.
Joining Cardiff drag legend POLLY AMOROUS is JENNA DYCHOFF, RAHIM EL HABACHI, FOOFOO LABELLE, ERIC MCGILL and BUNMI ODUMOSU, bringing their bountiful talents to the stage.
We were there to review the show last night and I feel anything I tell you here would either be a spoiler or actually different to what you see when you go along. Yes, there is a story, there are songs and amazing spectacles on stage. But there is a live, interactive audience too, with a sometimes unpredictable Polly honing in on those who deserve a gentle ribbing. So what we watched last night, will be subtly different at other performances.
We spoke to Polly at the end of the show and grabbed some reaction from the audience. As in previous years, it was all positive……..
We’ve said this in previous reviews, the venue itself is really special. We get to sit at tables around a centre stage, which means everyone has a perfect view of the show. Be warned, the view is occasionally up close and personal and you will see bottoms, of that there is no doubt.
Polly holds the show together as a kind of narrator/player and as usual was on top form. The interaction between her and the audience is sharp and direct, but her relationship with the rest of the cast is a lovely one to watch. You can clearly see the bond they have built over three years of performing together.
Eric and Bunmi perform some pretty spectacular stuff high above the stage, with the occasional ‘gross out’ moments we’ve come to expect from Eric.
Rahim gives a spectacular high-energy belly dance, but also puts in a hilarious performance as a Roman centurion. FooFoo delivers a great Christmas present unwrapping routine, which you can see a little of in the video above. For me however, one of the musical highlights was Polly’s Welsh take on the Robbie William classic Angels. The song is of course instantly recognisable but in Welsh it feels fresh and new, especially with the ‘things I love about Wales’ moment halfway through the routine.
While we’re on the music line, great job from Jenna who is very much a part of the show with her brilliant musical accompaniment and solo moments. Also a mention for Assistant Stage Manager HELENA GONZALEZ who set the place alight with a mesmerising fire eating routine.
This may be the final team the team are gathered at the WMC for a show like this so I would urge you to grab a ticket while you can. If you want to get yourself off the big man’s nice list for a while, you can have a two hour fix of naughty right now, and let’s be honest, we all love a bit of naughty at this time of year.
THE FIRST XXXMAS: A VERY NAUGHTY-TIVITY is in the Weston Studio at the Wales Millennium Centre through to New Years Eve, Sunday 31st December with performances at 8.30pm; there’s also a matinee on the 31st at 3.30pm
Tickets are £20, with £17 concessions. The previews on the 5th & 6th of December are £15. You can details and your tickets (and we’d be quick) HERE.
There is an age restriction of 18+
