Unwrapping the Mischief: A VERY NAUGHTY CHRISTMAS returns this holiday season!
There’s nothing quite like a cheeky dose of holiday hilarity to get Aussies into the festive spirit, and A Very Naughty Christmas is back to deliver just that—this time bigger, bolder, and naughtier than ever. As the adults-only Christmas comedy phenomenon prepares to hit Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Melbourne, audiences can expect another year of risqué revelry, hilarious parodies, and a whole lot of skin.
In this exclusive, we chat with Melbourne’s mischievous Santa, Tim Paige (Pop-Up Globe’s Macbeth), and Kate Yaxley (Groundhog Day), alongside Brisbane returnees Emily Kristopher (Crackermilk) and Daniel Erbacher (Rocky Horror Picture Show), to unwrap the secrets behind the show’s growing cult status. From behind-the-scenes antics to the creative chaos of blending burlesque, comedy, and holiday classics, these stars share why this “naughty list” must-see has become a Christmas tradition for the bold and the brave.
With a talented cast and a promise of irreverent fun, A Very Naughty Christmas is sure to have audiences ho-ho-howling with laughter all season long!
What drew you to be part of A Very Naughty Christmas, and what do you enjoy most about performing in this show?
Tim: As soon as I read the audition pack I was hooked. The material is naughty but in the cleverest of ways. Satirically lampooning people who need it, whilst never punching down! My favourite thing to do is the end of the show… which needs to be seen to never be unseen.
Emily: Alex first asked me to be a part of the show 8 years ago! I had just finished a solo comedy show and someone recommended me to him. I’m very glad they did because it was right up my alley! The thing I enjoy most about this show is being able to do comedy in front of a live audience. That’s my comfort zone and what I love!
What keeps you coming back to this cheeky holiday production?
Daniel: A Very Naughty Christmas has become a Christmas tradition in Brisbane that never fails to disappoint. Being able to put a naughty twist on your traditional Christmas carols and create a show from the ground up, is rare and exciting, and one of the many reasons I keep coming back. Having the space to share and collaborate ideas with a group of hilariously talented artists and creatives is what makes this show so unique. I think at the heart, this show is just so much fun for us as the cast but also for audiences too. It’s just such a nice way to spend the end of a big year!
Emily: It feels like my Christmas tradition as this point! The show is really fun to perform, and the cast are always wonderfully talented and fun to be around. Singing and dancing with your friends for a month? I’m in!
Tim: The laughs both in and out of the rehearsal room! Best ab work out you’ll get in years!
What’s been the most challenging part of being in A Very Naughty Christmas, and how have you approached it?
Daniel: This show is quite unique in the sense that we create new content for this show every year. Often we are working against time constraints to create new material, check that it works and get it on the floor and rehearsed before audiences see it. It’s what makes this show so special: we work smart and quickly to get fresh, new and funnier content for our audiences.
Tim: Well, Santa’s a little older than some of his elves, so the choreography takes him a little longer to pick up. I lean a lot on my cast members to help me go over things and sometimes literally push me to the right spot on stage.
Have there been any changes or updates to the show since your last performance that excite you?
Emily: Every year the show changes. It has to, because so many people come annually and we want them to have something fresh and exciting. It’s always fun workshopping a new scene or song, and anticipating what the audience reaction might be. This year we have a particularly fun disco number that has quickly become my favourite!
How do you prepare for such a high-energy and risqué performance? Are there any pre-show rituals or routines you follow?
Emily: Making sure to fuel yourself properly is always important, especially on double show day! In terms of the show being a little risqué – I feel like the show straddles that line of being a bit naughty WHILE being very funny. This helps it feel more comfortable. Plus the cast always makes sure to do a fun group warm up and check-in with each other!
Tim: The show needs to be super tight for the jokes and moments to last so we spend a lot of time on timing, and workshopping jokes to be relevant for Melbourne audiences. As for pre-show rituals, I make sure I shake my bowl full of jelly before every show.
Kate: Christmas is my absolute favourite time of the year, so it doesn’t take much for me to be pumped for this show. A solid vocal and physical warm up is paramount. With this type of show it’s also super important to check in with each cast member before every performance to make sure we are all on the same page.
What’s your favourite number or moment in the show, and why does it stand out for you?
Kate: We love a bit of audience participation in A Very Naughty Christmas and it always turns out to be the highlight of each show. Our audience can change the whole trajectory of the show so I love being kept on our toes with what is coming our way next. No show is EVER the same! And because I can’t just pick one moment, another highlight is when I get to sing one of our original songs. It never quite goes where the audience expects.
Can you share a funny or memorable behind-the-scenes moment from rehearsals or performances?
Daniel: We have shared so many funny moments in this show, we always find ourselves in fits of laughter. We have a challenging choral number at the top of the show that requires a bit of concentration, often it only takes one person to giggle slightly and then it becomes very contagious while we’re trying to sing.
Kate: This is my fourth year performing in A Very Naughty Christmas. I will never forget the year my solo number was a roller-skate extravaganza. One night a cast member lost control, couldn’t stop the momentum, grabbed the curtain and pulled the whole thing down all whilst rocking gold sequinned booty shorts. The 6ft 4” man stood exposed for a few numbers before a solution was found. These unscripted moments are always the best!
How would you describe this show in three words to someone who’s never seen it before?
Daniel: I would say naughty but it’s in the title so I’d say hilarious, witty and cheeky. A Very Naughty Christmas is a love letter to Christmas from those with a dark sense of humour. Get in quick because tickets are selling fast!
Kate: Cheeky, festive-filled and joyful.
For tickets and more information, visit www.averynaughtychristmas.com
