Thick & Tight: Camp as Christmas
High camp and low blows, fabulous dance and a load of laughs – Thick & Tight spark the fire with their revue-style cabaret for the bleak midwinter.
Combining Thick & Tight’s sizzling mix of dance, drag, mime, lip-sync and satire, this spectacular show affectionately trashes the festive season. Whether you love or loathe Christmas, it’ll help get you through to the other side.
For one night only (across a three-week run … ), Camp as Christmas features a classic nativity cast including the Virgin Mary, Father Christmas, Reform UK, Judy Garland, Three Unwise Men, Sarah Ferguson, Pigs in Blankets, the Devil, Little Donkey and Baby Jesus … oh and don’t forget Liza! Expect show tunes, the avant-garde, quick changes and possibly a carol. Always camp, a little bit Christmassy.
Starring in these roles are Thick & Tight’s own Daniel Hay-Gordon and El Perry, with incredible guest performers.
Thick & Tight are no strangers to acclaim. Their 2022 show Short & Sweet was called a ‘dazzling and witty variety show’ by The Stage in a five-star review. Now, Camp as Christmas is Thick & Tight’s latest full-length show after winning an Offie for the Cabaret category and Achievement in Dance at the UK Theatre Awards.
The atmosphere will be celebratory, inclusive and queer, striking a few festive notes while adding a good dollop of irreverence and subversiveness to the conventions of the season. Are you coming down the chimney or not?
Camp as Christmas is designed by Tim Spooner, Darren Evans and Nao Nagai.
Thick & Tight is a dance theatre company based in the UK, co-directed by Daniel Hay-Gordon and El Perry. Combining dance, mime, lip sync, drag and satire, they make queer-focussed work which entertains, whilst challenging elitism and stigma in the arts, and in wider society.
Formed in 2012, Thick & Tight have presented work at venues including Sadler’s Wells, Wilton’s Music Hall, The Tate, Royal Vauxhall Tavern and here at the Southbank Centre. They are Associate Artists at Lowry and Philharmonia Artists in Residence.
Need to know
Haze is used during this performance.
There is no interval during this performance.
The performance on Thu 10 Dec, 7.45pm is a preview show with £20 flat-rate tickets. A post-show talk takes place on Wed 16 Dec.
Created and performed by Thick & Tight (Daniel Hay-Gordon & El Perry)
Costume and set design: Tim Spooner
Additional design: Sheila Hay
Hair and make-up: Darren Evans
Lighting design: Nao Nagai
Producers: Michael Kitchin and Eve Veglio-Huner
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
10 Dec 2026 – 03 Jan 2027
Run time
1 hour (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
from £23 + £3.50 booking fee
Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
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Access
To book tickets for BSL interpretation, email [email protected] or call us on 020 3879 9555.
All performances are captioned.
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For your visit
This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre
The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
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The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.
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