How To Catch A Krampus Is A Worthy Antidote To All This Christmas Cheer

How To Catch A Krampus, Pleasance Theatre ★★★★★

By David Lloyd-Davies Last edited 64 months ago

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How To Catch A Krampus Is A Worthy Antidote To All This Christmas Cheer How To Catch A Krampus, Pleasance Theatre 5
How To Catch A Krampus theatre review
Photo: Ali Wright

Nothing says ‘Merry Christmas’ like children being violently punished for their misdeeds by a half-goat-half-man creature. Told in the underrated style of Victorian melodrama, Sink The Pink’s Christmas show How To Catch A Krampus offers welcome relief from Christmas cheer. Combining a bawdy but clever script with gothic drag chic is always going to be a winner and this production is no exception.

How To Catch A Krampus theatre review
Photo: Ali Wright

The story of unexpected origins of the Krampus — the aforementioned half-goat-half-man — is interspersed with short tableaus which throw some light on all the shade. As writer, director and starring role, Ginger Johnson proves herself as a force to be reckoned with while adding some champion North-Eastern drag humour. Supporting her is a talented cast whose individual styles and talents have been woven together so artfully to evoke the Victorian gothic atmosphere. David Cumming invokes his inner German fuhrer to give a Krampus fit for a night with Max Mosely. Keeping the whole show moving is the atmospheric original score by musical director Sarah Bodalbhai.

How To Catch A Krampus theatre review
Photo: Ali Wright

When the stars align and theatrical magic happens on stage it is a beautiful thing. Here, among the murdered babies and stolen souls, that magic has a black lacy hemline with the occasional glinting sequin. Sink The Pink and Ginger Johnson have done it again.

How To Catch A Krampus, Pleasance Theatre, Carpenters Mews, N7 9EF. Tickets £18-£22, until 23 December 2018.

Last Updated 28 November 2018