Lilly Snatchdragon will host Shotgun Carousel’s Christmas extravaganza The Grotteaux at Woolwich Works. Named No. 1 in the ‘Top UK Burlesque Performers’ by 21st Century Burlesque, Lilly has performed sold-out shows at The Bush and the Garrick Theatres, as well as founding The Bitten Peach, the UK’s premiere Pan-Asian cabaret collective. Lilly will be joined by burlesque star Cleopantha (as seen in The Man in the Mirror: A Michael Jackson biopic), Mark Anthony (winner, Mr Boylesque UK 2019; Queeriosity Cabaret), Len Blanco (Divine Proportions, Shotgun Carousel), Leah Kirby (Moll and the Future Kings, Sam Wanamaker Theatre) and musician Isobella Burnham (debut EP, Dancin’ Garuda, May 2021).
From the creative team behind the sell-outs Divine Proportions and Red Palace, expect a festive show for everyone with glitz, camp showbiz glamour, drag, cabaret, circus, magic, variety and comedy. Dust off your baubles, dig out your sequins and step inside The Grotteaux for an outrageous cabaret-filled Christmas soirée and show like no other. To provide that classic cabaret feel, live music and original tunes will come from The Carousel’s House Band, with every night featuring a variety of special VIP guests which will be announced soon!
The Grotteaux fuses an old school variety format with fresh exciting performance, putting a contemporary twist on some classic Christmas tropes. High-brow meets low-brow, opulent West End meets East London dive bar; The Grotteaux is a place where all walks of life can come, be entertained, eat, drink (with or without alcohol!) and be merry and enjoy a little seasonal magic.
This Christmas-shaped show reflects the experiences of Christmas and the festive season for people of many different backgrounds, genders, sexualities, races and religions (or lack thereof!). The House Cast and Band bring together a mixture of artists from a variety of backgrounds, heritages and identities – working class, middle class, East End, Essex, Yorkshire, Laos/Thai, white British, Black British Caribbean, dual heritage, Arab, trans, non-binary and more. Christmas can be a tricky time for everyone for a multitude of different reasons and The Grotteaux creates a world that audiences can step into and feel welcome. Surrounded by new family and friends, let’s shed the idea of a ‘perfect John Lewis’ Christmas and find new connections and common ground – what Christmas is all about.
Writer and director Molly Beth Morossa comments, Everyone has a different experience of Christmas and the festive season, The Grotteaux speaks to these different experiences, and validates all of them. I’m so proud to be collaborating with such talented and diverse artists to create an inclusive, welcoming festive show that will have something for everyone, including those who don’t necessarily fit the Perfect, White Christmas, John Lewis Ad, everyone singing together round the piano, Nuclear Family category. The LGBTQ+ community are well versed with the notion of chosen family, the cast of our show are chosen family, and we can’t wait to fling open the doors and welcome everybody in, regardless of sexuality, race, gender identity, religion, class or anything else! A show to bring some sparkle, joy and togetherness when we need it the most.
The Grotteaux is at Woolwich Works Thursday 16th December 2021 – Saturday 8th January 2022.
