An Evening With Krampus:
Written and Devised by the company
Directed by: Amanda Collins & Kevin Johnson
Lighting by: Nathan Benjamin
Co-produced by: Barbican Theatre
Cast : Chloe Carrubba
William O'Brien
Adam Connolly
An Evening With Krampus was our very first production under 'The Wheel' co-produced by the Barbican Theatre.
An alternative christmas show devised and created for an adult audience only, the show fused cabaret, live music, song, comedy, popular forms, storytelling and a little bit of commedia mask work.
It ran for 10 performances at The Barbican Theatre in December 2018, playing to approximately 900 festive audience members ready to 'reclaim christmas from the fat man and the children by indulging in an evening of pleasure, drinking Krampus Schmapps, and demanding a less commercial and stress free christmas that puts the adults first.
Review:
You'd better watch out, you'd better beware
You'd better not pout, I'm telling you why
Krampus is in town…
Making a list and checking it twice
Finding out who's naughty and nice…
And, apparently, 'tis the season to kidnap children.
The Barbican Theatre’s innovative cabaret / song / live music extravaganza is billed as a darkly delicious festive treat. Dark indeed and, oh, so delicious.
Developed by the Barbican Theatre and Plymouth’s spanking new production and actor training company The Wheel, An Evening with Krampus offers a seasonal alternative to wholesome entertainment and is definitely not for the whole family.
In Central European legend, Krampus is a glorious Lord of Misrule, punishing naughty children while his saccharine counterpart St Nicholas rewards the well-behaved with gifts.
The charismatic Chloe Carrubba is sexy and sassy—in red satin, black lace, fishnets and DMs—as the eponymous folklore figure who is majorly miffed. The centuries-old pact with the fat man has long been broken with Santa (he who breaks into houses, plays with small children, runs a Nordic tax haven sweat shop and refuses employment to those over 4’5”) selling out, hijacking Christmas from the adults and curtailing the penalties meted out to the bad.
And Krampus is not happy. She’s ready to right fake news and trash, thrash or lash those in her gimlet sights.
With versatile sidekicks Adam Connolly and William O’Brien, Carrubba struts about the circus ring set, stamping her feet, flashing her eyes, strumming a Spanish guitar and clacking castanets as age-old resentment is bared through rhyme and song. Well known favourites—Beatles, Queen, Oasis and more—are given a vicious or adult-only spin with a hilarious "Santa Baby" itemising the revenge Krampus would visit upon St Nick and an auditorium-rattling, full participation version of "We Will Rock You" revised to "Santa F*** You" to detail just two.
Not for the easily offended but great fun.
Woven through with the tale of the Pied Piper (re-enacted with the help of shadow puppets, suitcases, plenty of masks, and a fish tank) for no particular reason—or is there? Count your children upon returning home—there are occasional ‘uh?’ and ‘why?’ moments but I’d happily watch again.
A tremendous showcase for the impressive Carrubba, there is rumour that the concept may become a permanent Christmas antidote. I hope so.
Audience Responses:
Terrific show, loved it all, I felt naughty and nice having spent an evening with krampus. Recommended to many. Definitely be back .
Brilliant show so good I went to see it twice. Chloe was phenomenal such an incredible performance. Hope to see Krampus again next year and the next year etc etc
Fantastic⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My sister and me had a great evening with Krampus! We thoroughly enjoyed the naughty side of Christmas 👺🎄 🎅🏼
Defo return next year if you do something similar 👍🏼
Merry Christmas guys 🎄
An amazing show!! Started off my Christmas holidays great and even debated coming along to see it again 2 nights in a row!! Laughed and sang my socks off, can't wait to see another one of your shows!
Wow, what an experience @TheWheel_UK ‘An evening with Krampus’ was...certainly different, but v funny and thoroughly enjoyable #KrampusChristmas
Beautiful singing and delicate storytelling!
(4 years later...) 'I saw An Evening with Krampus and it was so utterly brilliant it has ruined all other Christmas shows for me. Nothing will top it!'