There are many great shows around South Wales this year, and it’s obvious by the crowds turning out to see them that we have missed them so much over the last 18 months.

This Christmas, the Wales Millennium Centre has Beauty And The Beast on the main stage, but if you want something very different and well away from the ‘traditional’ then upstairs at the WMC, in the Wolfson Studio, you’ll find some of the most outrageous Beastly Beauties performing their take on the Dickens classic tale.

A XXXMAS CAROL is a raucous anti-panto; joyous and outrageous but with a compassionate look at how different people feel about the festive season. Some of the city’s most talented drag, burlesque and circus artists are performing in a suitably decorated venue which will transport you into a Christmas land like no other.

We were at the opening night of the show and the first thing that struck us was just how good the entire layout of the theatre is. Imagine Moulin Rouge dropped right into the heart of the capital and that’s the vibe you’ll have. It really is the perfect setting for what lies ahead.

If you don’t enjoy a bit of swearing (a lot), plenty of bottom wiggling and semi-naked bodies, then I can tell you this won’t be for you. This is one show which definitely puts the ‘ass’ back into Christm-ass.

We loved every hip grinding, innuendo filled second of the show, as did the packed theatre, and from start to finish, the performers had us under their festive spell. It is a cracker of a Christmas show, as you can see from the audience reaction below.

The cast includes drag artist POLLY AMOROUS, who features in our film. Bellydancer RAHIM EL HABACHI, burlesque performer FOO FOO LABELLE, circus aerialists BUNMI ODUMOSU and ERIC MCGILL with music from pianist GERAINT OWEN – who is the brunt of many a joke and put down from Polly.

As we said, the audience were in agreement as to just how entertaining this show is, they take over our review from here………

A XXXMAS CAROL is the final Wales Millennium Centre co-production of 2021, they’ve joined forces with Cardiff based Big Loop for this show.

If you’ve not come across Big Loop they are a company of theatre-makers who have have been making theatre, performance, and other arty nonsense (their words) since their first show, Moirai, in 2016.

They – and we quote here………..

“Bring an attitude of playfulness to every rehearsal and performance, ensuring that our working practice is: genre-fluid, nurturing and, in short, fun. We have a focus on making original, one-act plays that balance silliness and humour with beauty and pathos. 

We use processes of play as creative tools, both for devising/writing original work, or adapting/staging published texts. We are experienced in use of puppetry, dance, physical theatre, and improvisation.”

If you want to find out more about Big Loop, just go HERE.

The Big Loop Team

This bizarre retelling of Charles Dickens’ yuletide nightmare is perfect if you like things a little more naughty than nice for your festive season.

Forget the Christmas past – this is a Christmas present to remember for the rest of your Christmases yet to come. You’d be a muppet to miss it.

XXXMAS CAROL is in the Wolfson Studio at the Wales Millennium Centre through to 31st December. Performances are at 8:30pm with a nice New Year’s Eve show at 2:30pm. Tickets are £15 each with concessions at £12. You can get yours HERE.