For many, the lead-up to Christmas is all about sometimes-awkward family gatherings, and watching carols in the park. But, what if it didn’t have to be?
Brisbane’s favourite adults only Christmas comedy, ‘A Very Naughty Christmas’ is heading to Riverside Theatres this month for three shows only, and there couldn’t be a more perfect way to bring on the festive season.
For creator Alex Woodward, the idea for ‘A Very Naughty Christmas’ came from celebrating the holiday with friends who became family.
“I had this group of friends, and we loved Christmas, and we were all in the arts – in live music or entertainment or theatre. Every year, we used to get together, and we had an event called Friends Christmas, where we’d get together on a weekend before Christmas, give out dodgy presents to each other, get dressed up in $2 costume shop outfits, drink, play games and have a really fun day,” he said.
“We always wished that there was a show that we could all go to, but all there was was a carols sort of situation. So we thought, why doesn’t someone create a Christmas show that’s not focused on entertaining kids?”
This year is Alex’s sixth producing the show, which he describes as an upbeat show, with nine incredible performers and a three-piece band to bring the fun.
“We call it a comedy concert, because it’s all comedy, it’s all singing, it’s all dancing,” he said.
“We kind of just point out some of the ridiculousness in already established Christmas songs – it’s very easy to twist Christmas songs to point out innuendo that’s already been in them for 100 years.”
The show has developed a loyal audience in Brisbane, with 6000 people seeing it in its run last year. Its shows in Parramatta will be the first time it has left its home town, and Alex couldn’t be more thrilled.
“We’re so lucky up here in Brissy – we’ve grown year on year on year, and our biggest problem has been finding theatre availability to run for long enough!” he said.
“This is the first time that we’ve taken the show interstate, and we’re really excited.
“To prepare for this year, we wanted to do some bigger things, but also put in some of the songs and the skits that we know have been people’s favourites up here.
“We’re putting some stuff into the show down south that won’t actually be on this year in Brissy, because we just wanted to give people the best of the best over the past five years that we’ve done up here.”
For a show that sees ‘Walking in a Winter Wonderland’ become ‘Walking Around in Women’s Underwear’, Alex thinks the name speaks for itself in terms of what audiences can expect.
‘A Very Naughty Christmas’ will be on at Riverside Theatres from Wednesday, December 21. For more information, visit riversideparramatta.com.au.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.