Could this be the most irreverent, frivolous, and (self-proclaimed) filthy festive fiesta ever? Clutching a promo image that promised a certain amount of nudity, and feeling a certain amount of trepidation, I went along to review Cirque du Sleigh at the Wynnum Wonderland Christmas Festival. Was I in for an eye-opener? You betcha! And it came with a ho ho whole lot of belly laughs that even Santa couldn’t match for size. Here’s what you need to know…
First, a word of warning
This event is advertised as strictly 18+ for good reason. If you are easily offended by rude jokes, nudity, sexual innuendo, LGBTQ+ representation, and more than a hint of blasphemy, this show is not for you. Luckily, there are more family-friendly shows at the Wynnum Wonderland Christmas Festival. Check out the full program here.
A Christmas experience like no other
Cirque du Sleigh is a Christmas stocking crammed with chaos.
It has bums, balls and burlesque. It has tinsel, tassels, and “tucks”. You’ll see balloon tricks that go way beyond the innocent fun you had playing with static electricity as a child, and believe me, when you finally pull your split sides back together and crawl out of the Augathella Spiegeltent at the end of the night, you’ll know you have kissed those innocent days goodbye forever.
Cirque du Sleigh is brought to you by Head First Acrobats, AFAB drag queen Tash York, Trigger Happy, and a revolving cast of special guests.
Tash York is your fabulous compere for the evening as a naughty Mrs Claus. Your Saucy Santa is Trigger Happy. If you are a fan of drag and burlesque, you may already know them from the international award-winning Shrek parody, Swamplesque.
The special guests change each week, so this is a riotous date night that you can run on repeat right up until December 22.
Watch Out for the Glitter Bomb!
The show opens innocently enough with a festive singalong, then Tash York sends the tone plummeting faster than Santa down a well-greased chimney. The next two hours are strictly for grown-ups on the naughty list!
It’s a non-stop cabaret circus that will bring you burlesque performances, acrobatics, aerial stunts, magic tricks, contortionists and comedy. There is nudity. Swear words are thrown out like candy canes at a Christmas parade. And I am not exaggerating when I say the couple seated behind me walked out clutching their pearls in disgust after a Nativity scene that I’m not sure I can ever recover from. Still…
Traditionalists will be pleased to note that in the midst of chaos you are not forgotten. Sit back and enjoy Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker as you’ve never seen it performed before (hint: the title has been taken a little more literally!). And there are nods to more modern traditions with a reimagining of a favourite scene from Love Actually.
I was surprised to see such a broad age- and social-range of attendees on the night I went. There were mums and their adult daughters, young couple, and several silver-haired couples getting up close on the front row. I’d warn anyone in the upper-age category to take care though – a lady near me in her 60s literally fell off her chair laughing. She was ok.
Is it a perfect date night?
Yes, absolutely – provided you can leave any prudishness behind with the babysitter!
Cirque du Sleigh is truly hilarious. Go with an open mind and really, genuinely, set your expectations in the gutter. If you’re the sort of person who enjoys a comedy shock that will leave you laughing ‘til you can’t breathe, this is for you.
What to know before you go
- Dates: From November 28, 2025 to December 22, 2025, weekends and select week nights.
- Tickets & Booking: From $50 in group bookings to $79 for a VIP experience. Companion card holders can take a companion for free. Book online.
- Duration: Two hours including 20-minute interval
- Location & Access: Held in the air-conditioned Augathella Spiegeltent, 166 Bay Terrace, Wynnum. Plenty of free on-street parking nearby. The surface outside the tent is crushed stone but wheelchair users can bypass this to get a smooth access straight to the tent entrance.
- Food & Drink: There are food and drink vans outside the tent, and a bar inside the tent selling beer, wine, soft drinks, and a choice of three themed cocktails. Free water is available.
