Le Gateau Chocolat: Musicals Mayhem review – dazzling charisma and thundering sonic richness

Soho theatre, London The major showman takes a solo stroll through show tunes, sing alongs and seasonal hits with vocal highlights that leave you gasping for breathSome Christmasses ago, Le Gateau Chocolat and Jonny Woo teamed up for a cabaret double a…

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Ben Elton: ‘I fancied Olivia Newton-John. It’s alright to say that about a third cousin, right?’

The standup talks about tensions behind the scenes of Blackadder, his Wiggles movie that never happened and his opinions on hecklersOf all the things you’ve written, what gets quoted at you the most?It’d be something from my three series of Blackadder …

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Jenny Eclair looks back: ‘Anorexia is difficult to get out of. I can joke about it now, because I’m overweight’

The comedian and novelist on the stress of sudden success, her disordered relationship with food, and how hobbies have replaced her libidoBorn in Kuala Lumpur in 1960, Jenny Eclair is a comedian, actor and author. The daughter of a major in the British…

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Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was … review – a star is born again

Reflecting on the stroke he had in 2023, the standup and actor delivers a mix of religion, repentance, wisecracks and tears in his Netflix specialIt’s quite the document, this new Jamie Foxx special, in which the Oscar- and Grammy-winner opens up about…

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Comfort and joy! Merry gentlemen Sheeps deliver the ultimate Christmas album

With A Very Sheeps Christmas, featuring songs such as Hoo Hoo Daddy X, the comic trio and guests including Rose Matafeo pastiche all manner of festive tunesAre any two forms of artistic expression more widely maligned than musical comedy and the Christ…

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Séayoncé’s Perky Nativititties review – smut comes down Santa’s chimney

Yard theatre, London The drag queen’s ho-hum ‘anti-Christmas’ show is delivered with delinquent charm and a lot of third-hand double entendresThe festive season can be isolating – so here comes drag queen Séayoncé with an “anti-Christmas” show designed…

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The Christmas Thing review – Krampus comes to town as cult comedy is retuned for yuletide

Seven Dials Playhouse, LondonTom Clarkson and Owen Visser’s anarchic evening has some bright ideas but may be more fun for those taking part than onlookers‘A festive TV show live onstage,” promise multimedia double act Mr Thing, and they’re qualified t…

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Dick Whittington and His Cat review – the rats have no chance in merry panto

Hackney Empire, London It won’t win prizes for originality, but the joyful ensemble spirit of Clive Rowe’s show will keep the kids happyOne day, a panto may come along in which the story is given as much (OK, even half as much) attention as the dame’s …

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‘We’re not as good as them!’: why are comics Adam Riches and John Kearns becoming crooners Ball & Boe?

Two Edinburgh fringe favourites have teamed up to play mainstream entertainment titans Michael Ball and Alfie Boe in this festive season’s most unlikely stage showAlone, they are acclaimed and award-hogging entertainment colossi. Together, they are the…

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‘Am I allowed to be funny?’ Ashley Storrie on acting, autism – and grieving her mum, Janey Godley

The Scottish comedian received two Baftas last month, just after the death of her mother. She discusses secrets, sadness, success and how comedy sustains herAshley Storrie is describing her “massively surreal” experience at last month’s Bafta Scotland …

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