I went to see Little Miss Christmas at Southwark Playhouse Borough and had an absolute blast. This is not your cosy, mulled-wine, Christmas-card kind of festive show. It’s louder, queerer, sillier, and far more fun than that.
The show opens with fabulous drag queen Patti Boo Rae strutting on to a lip sync of ‘Jingle Bell Rock’, instantly setting the tone. She’s confident, hyper-festive, and fully convinced that tonight is, once again, going to end with her winning the Little Miss Christmas pageant. She’s won it four years in a row already, after all. And this year, she tells us, she’s competing unopposed.
Well, so she believes!
The show is mainly a solo performance, with Patti Boo Rae holding the stage for the vast majority of the night, but each evening she’s joined by a guest performer from London’s drag, cabaret, or comedy scene. On this occasion, that guest was Duane Nassis, who turns up later in the evening to shake things up rather spectacularly.
The whole thing plays out as a Christmas beauty pageant, with Patti Boo Rae guiding us through the usual categories – interview, swimsuit, evening wear, talent, and the big finale – all in pursuit of the all-important ‘Candy Cane Crown’. It’s a brilliantly daft premise that gives her license to do pretty much whatever she wants, and she absolutely runs with it.
One thing you notice quickly is just how many costume changes there are. Patti Boo Rae disappears from the stage again and again, popping back moments later in increasingly fabulous, inventive, and festive looks. While she’s off changing, we get pre-recorded video segments, which range from lightly amusing to genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. I was with another critic who wasn’t totally sold on them, but I thought they worked well – partly because they’re funny in their own right, and partly because they make the reveals that follow even more satisfying.
When Patti Boo Rae first comes on lip-syncing, I did briefly wonder if this was going to be a mostly mime-based evening. That worry doesn’t hang around for long. She has a really strong singing voice, and when she leans into live vocals, the show lifts another level. One of my favourite moments comes during the swimsuit round – an underwater-themed routine involving a submerged take on ‘Blue Christmas’. It’s completely ridiculous in the best possible way, brilliantly executed, and timed to perfection. Physical comedy like that looks easy when it’s done well, but it really isn’t.
Just when Patti Boo Rae seems fully on course to waltz her way to yet another victory, Duane Nassis arrives. Nassis – winner of Best Use Of Fruit at The Great British Striptease (yes, that really is a thing) – brings serious dance chops and a welcome jolt of energy. His arrival shifts the show from a confident victory lap into something a bit more chaotic and unpredictable, and the dynamic between the two of them is great fun to watch.
There’s also some audience interaction along the way, and on this occasion, I eagerly volunteered. This resulted in me being dressed as Santa and treated to a very sexy dance performed at extremely close range. If you’re brave enough to stick your hand up, Little Miss Christmas may briefly become immersive theatre. Consider yourself warned.
Visually, the show is a treat. The costumes are bold, festive, and gloriously over the top, with a pageant-ready attention to detail throughout. My personal favourite is an adult-sized Cindy Lou Who, straight out of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. There’s also a brief on-screen cameo from Anita Bryant, which is unexpected, very funny, and lands perfectly within the show’s mischievous sense of humour.
What really makes Little Miss Christmas work is Patti Boo Rae herself. This is very clearly her show, and she carries it with confidence, charm, and an impressive range of skills – from comedy and character work to vocals and physical comedy. By the time the show reaches its ending – which I won’t spoil – it earns its payoff honestly and lands with genuine warmth.
If you’re after a festive night out that’s cheeky, queer, occasionally unhinged, and very entertaining, Little Miss Christmas is a great shout. It’s funny, it’s festive, and it leaves you in a glorious Christmassy mood. It’s an absolute Christmas cracker, and not to be missed!
Little Miss Christmas plays at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 3 January 2026.
Book your tickets now at southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Photos by TJMov
