You’ve seen Dickens at The Basement, you’ve seen JC himself, you’ve even seen a Real Housewife, but now it’s time for the big man himself: Santa Claus! He’s made his list. He’s checked it twice. He knows if you’ve been naughty or nice. And he’s coming through the chimney/trap door to the Basement stage to see what you’ve been up to, from November 30 – December 20.
In the little town of Auckland, naughtiness has taken over and Santa’s ready to take the law into his own hands. Which list are you on? Did you buy caged eggs? Park in a disabled parking spot? Vote for a party that got less than five percent in the general election? Then you better watch out. Because Santa Claus is coming to The Basement, and it’s either good tidings, or a total Christmassacre.
Award-winning theatre company A Slightly Isolated Dog (Don Juan, Jekyll and Hyde) with director Leo Gene Peters bring their raucous, sexy signature style to The Basement’s annual chaotic Christmas celebration this year. They’ve shaken up Don Juan, they’ve torn Jekyll and Hyde to shreds, now it’s the time to do the same to Santa Claus, with world-class clowning and twisted pop songs.
There’s the killer core cast of Hayley Sproull, Jack Buchanan, Andrew Paterson and Susie Berry, but in classic Basement tradition there’s going to be a secret celebrity guest each night, including Amanda Billing, Antonia Prebble, Chlöe Swarbrick, Claire Chitham, Dave Fane, Fasitua Amosa, Jaquie Brown, James Roque, Jarod Rawiri, Jennifer Ward Lealand, Jesse Griffin, Laura Daniel, Lily McManus, Madeleine Sami, Miriama Kamo, Oliver Driver, Te Radar, Tom Sainsbury, Urzila Carlson and more yet to be announced.
Irreverent and subversive, The Basement Christmas Show has evolved from a low-key fundraiser to one of Auckland’s must-do Christmas offerings, described in 2016 by the New Zealand Herald as “as much of an Auckland holiday season staple as Franklin Rd Lights and the Farmers Santa Parade”.
As a charitable organisation, the Christmas Show is the theatre’s only fundraiser, with all profits from the show going into development programmes for artists, so audience members get the warm Christmas fuzzies, as well as a bloody great night out! With upgrades that range from getting the best seats in the house and a free drink to giving a donation just to make you feel nice rather than naughty this Christmas, it’s a chance to have fun and feel like a good person at the same time.
It wouldn’t be the Auckland festive scene as we know it without the Annual Basement Theatre Christmas Show.
This show sells out every year – don’t miss it!
FEATURING A CELEBRITY GUEST ACTOR EACH NIGHT:
(IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, ON NO PARTICULAR PERFORMANCE DATE): Amanda Billing, Antonia Prebble, Chlöe Swarbrick, Claire Chitham, Dave Fane, Fasitua Amosa, Jaquie Brown, James Roque, Jarod Rawiri, Jennifer Ward Lealand, Jesse Griffin, Laura Daniel, Lily McManus, Madeleine Sami, Miriama Kamo, Oliver Driver, Te Radar, Tom Sainsbury, Urzila Carlson and more yet to be announced.
SANTA CLAUS plays
Dates: Thursday November 30 – Wednesday December 20
Times: 7:00pm, Tuesday – Saturday, Monday 11 & 18 December
Late Shows: 9:00pm Saturday 9 & 16; Thursday 14 December
Venue: The Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland CBD
Tickets: $32 – $35
SANTA UPGRADE (Guaranteed best seats in the house, a free drink and a donation towards the theatre): $50.00
ELF UPGRADE (A sweet treat at interval and a donation to the theatre): $45.00
REINDEER UPGRADE (Giving extra love to our theatre this festive season): $40.00
Bookings: www.iticket.co.nz // 0508 iTICKET (484 253)
