Christmas With Anton Du Beke

To properly showcase such talent, Du Beke needed dance partners on a similar level, and he more than found them. He is joined by a troupe of four stellar dancers, Ellie O’Gorman, Kelly Chow, Polina Maver, and Rosie Ward. The latter two in particular had several standout moments during duets with Anton. Polina joined him for a blistering performance to ‘Rocking Around the Christmas Tree’, giving the duo the perfect opportunity to showcase their rapid footwork. Shortly after, Rosie paired up with Anton for a stunning waltz to the festive classic ‘Silent Night’. If the performance itself was not enough to choke you up, the story that followed certainly was, as Du Beke revealed that the waistcoat he had been wearing was gifted to him by the late, great Bruce Forsyth.

I went into this show expecting to witness high level musicality and be blown away by Anton & Friends’ ballroom ability, but I was not prepared for just how hilarious the night would be alongside this. Whether through scripted moments between songs or perfectly timed ad-libs based on what was happening on stage and in the audience, Anton displayed an extremely sharp wit, matched by many of the performers around him. The deep-rooted relationship between Du Beke and Lance Ellington was a particular highlight, with both men continually trying to outdo one another for laughs.

This truly was a show like no other, combining top-tier music, dance, and comedy. I would have enjoyed the evening if just one of these elements was present, but the flawless combination of all three made this one of the most fun nights I have spent in a theatre for quite some time.