Though there's a dearth of the genre on offer this festive season, panto is not the only type of entertainment to appear around this time of year.

And despite all of the difficulties and constraints that 2020 is imposing on shows, the Pleasance in Islington is bringing a slightly different festive flavour to its main stage.

From 8 to 22 December the crème de la crème of London's Queer cabaret groups will be taking taking over the Pleasance for a festive celebration of London's renowned drag, cabaret, and performance scene.

The venue is set to welcome a diverse representation of the LGBTQ+ community, with drag kings, queens and gender non-conforming artists all taking to the stage.

Following on from two acclaimed residencies at the Pleasance with Sink The Pink, Ginger Johnson is back for an evening of camp laughs, filthy looks, and all the usual shiny sh*t you've come to expect from Pleasance's own Christmas tree angel.

All-female and non-binary theatre and cabaret company Pecs Drag Kings visit Pleasance for the first time with Pecs: Christmas Queer, before the one and only Cocoa Butter Club promise to decolonise and remoisturise in a brand-new Christmas revue, Gifted.

Acclaimed pan-Asian collective The Bitten Peach will bring the festivities to a close and enchant audiences with their Bedtime Stories.

Like many dedicated venues across the capital, the Pleasance is embracing the new normal, having transformed its main house into London's "most exciting, socially distanced comedy, theatre and cabaret space".

The new three-tier auditorium can welcome 100 people a night, bringing the much-needed spirit of the Fringe back to our capital city.

As you'd expect, the Pleasance will follow up-to-date safety regulations with e-ticketing, enhanced cleaning and table service using the app 'Butlr' to provide drinks as well as new pizzas from neighbours The Depot.

The auditorium will open one hour before each performance to give audiences time to settle in and enjoy some pre-show drinks ensuring you can spend your whole evening at the venue in style.

It's all looking like there's plenty of fun nights out to be had this December at the Pleasance.

Anthony Alderson, Director of Pleasance Theatre Trust, adds ...

"I'm thrilled that we are re-opening the London space and managing to bring theatre back to London audiences.

We have put strict hygiene and cleanliness protocols in place and are making sure that your visit to the Pleasance is as safe as possible.

The artists we work with are at the heart of what we do and this re-opening season is all about bringing back that undefinable Fringe spirit that embodies all of us."

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Schedule

Ginger Johnson presents

Ginger Johnson's Christmas Egg

8 - 9 December 2020

Pecs Drag Kings present

Pecs: Queer Christmas

10 - 12 December 2020

The Cocoa Butter Club presents

Gifted

15 - 17 December 2020

Bitten Peach presents

Bedtime Stories

21 - 22 December 2020

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Venue

Pleasance

Carpenters Mews

North Road

London N7 9EF

Tickets

Tickets from £15.

Book online or call

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Links

Pleasance website

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