A Christmas Gaiety - A Queer Holiday Extravaganza
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- What you'll hear
- Have I seen it before?
Camp. Naughty. A drag Christmas celebration.
Who’s on stage
Royal Northern Sinfonia, conductor Edwin Outwater and Drag superstar Peaches Christ (jetting in from San Fran) are throwing the ultimate Christmas party. They’re joined by an incredible cast of sparkling guests that includes the outrageous Ginger Johnson, the unforgettable Le Gateau Chocolat, the hilarious Baga Chipz, queen of the West End Kerry Ellis (Wicked and Les Misérables), opera singer Rebecca Bottone and local legend Drag Idol winner, hostess and face of Rusty’s Showbar, Gladys Duffy.
What’s on the line-up
You’ll hear Sleigh Ride – or should that be Slay? – along with lots of festive favourites given an orchestral and camp party twist.
Need to know
Running time: 2 hours, including a 20 minute interval.
Discounts: Save if you’re a group of 10 or more people.
Age: This performance has age restrictions of 18+.
What you'll hear
Sing-along festive favourites including:
Sleigh Ride
Walking in the Air
Nothing Compares to You
and more…
Who's on stage
Meet our guests
Le Gateau Chocolat
If you’ve ever seen Le Gateau Chocolat, you’ll know there’s no one quite like him.
A six-and-a-half-foot, six-inch-heeled, sequinned force of nature with a voice that can move from disco to opera without breaking a sweat.
Named one of Time Out London’s Top 10 Cabaret Stars, Le Gateau brings huge heart, humour and unbelievable range to everything he does.
He’s performed everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall to Shakespeare’s Globe. But whether it’s a grand hall or a glitter-covered cabaret, it’s always unmistakably Le Gateau – bold, soulful, and utterly captivating.
Ginger Johnson
Award-winning artist, writer, and powerhouse drag performer Ginger Johnson first found her feet on the alt-drag and cabaret scenes of East London. Her mix of camp humour and bare-knuckle honesty quickly made her a name to watch – big heart, bigger mouth, and never one to play it safe.
Winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 5, she’s known for her barnstorming theatrics and sweet tooth for the ridiculous – a performer with one high heel rooted in drag’s rich history and the other kicking off towards the next big adventure.
Baga Chipz
Quick-witted, big-hearted and properly hilarious – Baga Chipz is British drag at its boldest.
A breakout star of the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (and later UK vs The World), Baga’s mix of old-school humour and camp, cheeky charm has made her a household name. She’s toured across the UK, appeared on Celebrity MasterChef and Celebrity Karaoke Club, and even turned up in Ackley Bridge on Channel 4. Whether she’s belting out a song, channelling Amy Winehouse, or making an audience cry laughing, Baga does it all with trademark sparkle and swagger.
Gladys Duffy
Drag Idol winner and face of Rusy’s Showbar, Gladys Duffy, is Newcastle’s beloved National Trinket. Currently storming the cabaret circuit in the UK, Gladys is the comedic drag sensation that captivates audiences with razor-sharp wit, bombastic parody and an attitude SO irreverent it’ll leave you gasping for more.
Edwin Outwater & Peaches Christ
When conductor Edwin Outwater and drag icon Peaches Christ join forces, you know you’re in for something extraordinary. They’re the dynamic duo who created A Christmas Gaiety – a gloriously queer, joyfully irreverent festive spectacular where classical music and drag collide.
It’s Handel meets high heels, Tchaikovsky with tinsel. A symphony hall turned glittering winter wonderland. Think traditional holiday music, outrageous comedy, and a lineup that’s as camp as, well, Christmas. Peaches, a filmmaker and performer, brings her signature wit and cult charm, while Outwater leads the orchestra with elegance, flair, and a sense of fun that keeps audiences grinning from start to finish.
Together they’ve reimagined what a holiday concert can be: a celebration of music, mischief, and community – where everyone’s welcome, and nothing is too over-the-top.
Kerry Ellis
Kerry Ellis has carved out a career that’s as bold and brilliant as her voice. She’s known as the leading lady of the West End – and for good reason. From We Will Rock You to Wicked, Les Misérables to My Fair Lady, she’s brought powerhouse performances to some of theatre’s biggest stages, both in London and on Broadway. Whether it’s rock, musical theatre, or something in between, Kerry’s voice has a knack for filling a room – and lifting every heart in it.
Rebecca Bottone
Operatic angel Rebecca Bottone has built a career that’s as wide-ranging as it is dazzling. She’s sung across the world’s most exciting stages, performed at the BBC Proms, sung Beethoven in Turin, and taken the lead in Patience and Faure’s Requiem. With her bright tone, sharp comic timing and fearless approach to new work, Rebecca is one of those rare singers who can make every role feel completley her own.
Have I seen it before?
Yes! Peaches, Edwin and a dream team of Queens and vocalists joined us in Sage One back in 2023. Sequins were the order of the day for the very first-ever A Christmas Gaiety outside of London. It was hilarious, camp, over the top, damn right outrageous and we loved it so much we just had to bring it back.
DJ Takeover
Join us on The Concourse, as tonight’s DJ spins some serious beats to grove and move to pre-show and post-show.
Dine just steps from the stage
Book a table in our Brasserie and enjoy a fresh Northern twist on classic British dishes. Sip exclusive drinks all night long and even save dessert for the interval.
