George Fenn and his producer Anne Cunliffe are bringing us a midyear Christmas show to warm our Welly winter hearts – and walking upstairs to The Studio at BATS Theatre there is Christmas music playing to set the scene.

My plus one and I enter first and a non-verbal Fenn hands us slips of paper asking for our name and a wish, then shows us a box to put them in. I have asked for a rabbit, will my wish be granted? Does Fenn have a bunny hidden in his Santa hat? I guess we will have to wait and see!

To our surprise he then gets one of us to hand the paper out to arriving crowd members, and I am handed red solo cups with a pen. Fenn mimes directions for me to pass out cups to my fellow wish-makers and get them to put their names on them. There are more jobs for people to complete, hilariously delegated by Fenn as they enter, but I won’t spoil all the fun and tell you what those are. It is safe to say everyone has been laughing from the moment they entered The Stage and it is bound to continue.

When everyone is seated and all tasks have been completed (or so we thought) three audience members are handed a script to read out and as they start Fenn walks out!

It is the night before Christmas and all through the house, no-one is stirring, not even a… sexy mouse? Fenn re-enters in his first costume change of the evening and this is one sexy mouse indeed!

The script is still being read, the mouse is being simultaneously slut shamed and defended and Fenn sensually walks up the stairs handing out oreos and a cup of oat milk for dipping them in. Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ plays in the background and everyone not reading the script is laughing.

My only qualm at this point is that the music is a bit too loud and the readers are having to yell over both the music and the roars of laughter. Sadly, my neurodivergent brain is now in overdrive trying to listen to the dialogue, eat an oreo, focus on Fenn and tune out the catchy music. This results in me missing some funny jokes which I read in the script on my way home.

The story is finished and the sexy mouse leaves the room as suddenly it goes dark, credit to tech Laura Gaudin who is doing a great job at lights and music. Santa arrives, the lights go on, and with no reindeer or sleigh in sight he has brought a ladder!

This show is labelled as burlesque and Fenn does not disappoint as Santa straddles the ladder and then performs a sexy dance. Mariah Carey is once again playing and I don’t know about others but now all I want for Christmas is a sexy Santa!

It has become apparent that there will be no speaking from Fenn for this show, and it makes it even more entertaining at times as confused audience members have to guess things he wants us to do.

Santa needs elves and Fenn picks some from the audience to help fulfil some Christmas wishes via gift bags. There is one audience member who isn’t too enthused about this part, but she plays along anyway and is encouraged by everyone still in their seats.

So far half of the show has been done by the audience in what is one of the most interactive shows I have ever been to, and what happens next is no exception with every single person in the room having to join in a friendly game of Jelly Pong (beer pong but with jelly). Fenn is a master at making us laugh both at him and ourselves and it honestly feels like we are just at a Christmas party with friends rather than a show.

A Christmas tree and Angel are made – and it is time for gifts! I don’t get a real rabbit but I do get a darn cute picture of one so I guess my wish has been granted. The audience is abuzz with Christmas joy and Fenn is prancing about in glee as we show what we’ve received.

Sadly Christmas has to end but Fenn has one more ridiculous audience participation to finish the show off and make sure it finishes with a bang.

The Sexy Ghost of Xmas Present has been unlike anything I have ever experienced and it has been so much fun! My stomach hurts from laughing non-stop for an hour along with every other person in the audience. Fenn has given us sexy, unhinged chaos and camaraderie, and has definitely warmed our cold winter hearts!

I highly recommend this show, and also recommend that this show is not for you if you just want to sit back and laugh without having to interact with others or become a part of the show, as Fenn does make sure everyone participates at least once.

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