It’s that time of year: we’ve been to review one version of The Nutcracker already, Drew McOnie’s excellent modern jazz interpretation at the Tuff Nutt Jazz Club.
Over the weekend we took a trip to Battersea to check out a completely different rendition at The Turbine Theatre – billed as ‘a very adult pantomime’, it’s a contemporary (and rather filthy) retelling with a light dusting of social commentary.
Expect references to Just Stop Oil protests and those sleeping on the streets as pursuing a “lifestyle choice”. It follows the story of Carly (Holly Ashman) who’s had a pretty awful year – her dad died, following which her family started falling apart, and then her ex ghosted her.
However, a surprise present from her uncomfortably inappropriate drunk uncle has the potential to turn things around – perhaps Christmas can be salvaged after all?