A Very Cabaret Christmas brings Libby Wood, Steph Kerby and special guests to Parramatta for three nights of Christmas songs, cabaret surprises and audience singalongs.
There are Christmas songs that return every year with reassuring familiarity. The first notes of a favourite carol can bring back memories of school concerts, family gatherings and long afternoons in the summer heat. Then there are the songs that arrive with a little more drama: the big pop anthems, the emotional ballads and the festive hits that seem to invite everyone to sing along.
At PHIVE in Parramatta this December, A Very Cabaret Christmas brings those musical traditions together with a generous helping of comedy and theatrical mischief. Featuring performers Libby Wood and Steph Kerby, the three-night season promises Christmas classics, unexpected song choices, special guests and opportunities for audience members to take the microphone themselves.
Presented by Riverside, the show runs from 10 to 12 December 2026 at Riverside Live at PHIVE. Andrew Worboys accompanies the performers, with a different special guest appearing each night. Friday's performance also features Fiona Pearson joining Wood as co-host.
The premise is simple: take the songs people love about Christmas, add the unpredictability of cabaret and allow the evening to unfold with a little less formality than a traditional carol concert. Audiences can sing along from their seats or put their names forward for the chance to perform a favourite Christmas tune on stage.
For anyone who enjoys a festive evening with live music, humour and a willingness to join in, A Very Cabaret Christmas offers a lively alternative to the usual seasonal soundtrack.
A Very Cabaret Christmas With A Playful Twist
Christmas entertainment often follows a familiar pattern. There are carols, polished performances and songs that audiences know well enough to join in without needing a lyric sheet. A Very Cabaret Christmas takes that familiarity and gives it a different shape.
Riverside's description promises favourite Christmas songs alongside unexpected choices, questionable festive lyric decisions and the kind of joyful chaos that can happen when two enthusiastic performers are given microphones and encouraged to enjoy themselves.
That spirit is central to cabaret. The form allows performers to move between music, comedy and direct engagement with the audience. A song can become a moment of theatrical storytelling; a familiar tune can be given a new context; and the distance between stage and auditorium can feel much smaller than it does at a conventional concert.
The show also leaves room for the unexpected. Audience members who want to sing can sign up for the opportunity to perform their favourite Christmas song. Those who prefer to remain comfortably in their seats can simply enjoy the atmosphere and watch the evening unfold.
It is an inclusive approach to festive entertainment. Not everyone wants to perform, but most people have a Christmas song they enjoy hearing, whether it is a traditional carol, a familiar pop favourite or a seasonal hit that has become part of the annual ritual.
The promise here is not a perfectly predictable programme. It is a Christmas gathering shaped by performers who enjoy the season and are prepared to have some fun with its musical traditions.
Libby Wood And Steph Kerby Take The Stage
At the centre of the production are Libby Wood and Steph Kerby, two performers whose enthusiasm for Christmas is very much part of the show's personality.
Wood is a cabaret performer, vocalist and musical comedian. Riverside introduces her with a playful North Pole biography, claiming she trained at the prestigious North Pole Academy of Cabaret and graduated with honours in Advanced Festive Shenanigans. She also maintains that she and Santa are "just good friends".
Kerby's fictional biography is equally committed to the season. It describes decades of annual preparation involving Mariah Carey, fairy lights and the conviction that Christmas decorations should go up much earlier than society considers reasonable. The pair's naughty-or-nice status, Riverside suggests, remains under review.
These humorous introductions give a sense of the tone audiences can expect. The production is not presenting Christmas as a solemn occasion or treating familiar songs as untouchable. Instead, it invites performers and audience members to enjoy the traditions, laugh at the excesses and embrace the occasional musical surprise.
The two hosts are accompanied by Andrew Worboys, whose musical contribution provides the foundation for the performances. Live accompaniment gives the evening the flexibility to move between songs and styles, supporting the cabaret format and the possibility of spontaneous moments.
On Friday 11 December, Wood is joined by Fiona Pearson as co-host. The change gives that evening its own variation within the three-night season.
Three Nights, Three Special Guests
Each performance of A Very Cabaret Christmas features a different special guest, giving the three dates their own character.
Thursday 10 December welcomes Erin Clare. Friday 11 December features Clio, with Fiona Pearson joining Libby Wood as co-host. On Saturday 12 December, the special guest is Andrew Bukenya.
The changing guest line-up offers a reason to look closely at the individual dates when booking. While the central concept remains consistent, the featured performers give each evening a distinct combination of voices and personalities.
For regular cabaret audiences, special guests can be part of the attraction. The format creates opportunities for different performers to bring their own musical style and stage presence to the programme. For those attending primarily for the Christmas songs, the guest appearances add another layer of variety.
The three-night run also makes the event suitable for different kinds of seasonal outings. Friends might choose a Thursday evening to begin their Christmas celebrations, colleagues could make Friday their end-of-week gathering, while Saturday offers a weekend option for those who prefer a later start to their night out.
Whichever session they choose, audiences can expect a festive cabaret built around music, humour and the shared pleasure of familiar songs.
Your Chance To Sing Along
One of the show's most appealing features is the invitation for audience members to take part.
Those who would like to perform can sign up for the chance to sing a favourite Christmas tune on stage. Riverside makes clear that participation is optional: guests can have their own Mariah Carey moment or enjoy the show from the audience.
That choice gives the evening a welcoming quality. For some, the opportunity to sing in front of a room of people is part of the fun. Others may prefer to join in quietly from their seats, enjoying the music without becoming part of the performance.
The invitation also recognises how closely music is tied to personal Christmas memories. A song might recall a family tradition, a particular year or a favourite seasonal film. Another might simply be the track that signals the beginning of the holidays.
Cabaret is well suited to this kind of exchange. The performers can respond to the room, and the audience is not expected to remain entirely separate from the experience. Even those who do not take the stage can become part of the atmosphere through laughter, applause and the occasional singalong.
The result is intended to feel more like a festive party than a formal concert, with the music providing a shared starting point for the evening.
Make It A Night Out At PHIVE
Riverside Live at PHIVE is located at 5 Parramatta Square, in the centre of Parramatta's business and civic precinct. The venue is part of the PHIVE building, surrounded by restaurants, cafés, bars and other places to meet before or after a performance.
For A Very Cabaret Christmas, Riverside offers several ticketing options designed to suit different groups and ways of attending.
The standard ticket prices listed on the event page begin at $35 for non-members and $32 for Riverside members. Exact prices are displayed during seat selection, and a transaction fee applies.
Groups of four or more can access reserved theatre seating for $35 per person, subject to availability. The offer applies to theatre seating rather than cabaret tables and must be selected through the group ticket option when booking.
There is also a Cabaret Combo of Four for those who would like to make more of the evening. The package includes premium cabaret-table seating, a cheese platter, a bottle of bubbles and popcorn to share. It is priced at $62.50 per person and must be booked as a table of four. Availability is limited, and the transaction fee applies.
The cabaret table package is particularly suited to a group of friends or colleagues planning a Christmas outing. It brings the food and drink element into the booking, allowing the group to settle in and enjoy the performance together.
The show runs for approximately three hours, including an interval, so it is worth allowing enough time for the full evening rather than planning a quick visit.
A Festive Event For Different Kinds Of Christmas Fans
Not everyone approaches Christmas music in the same way. Some people look forward to the traditional carols, others have a playlist of pop favourites, and some are happy to hear anything that comes with a little seasonal sparkle.
A Very Cabaret Christmas makes room for those different tastes. Its promise of classics and unexpected choices suggests a programme that moves beyond a straightforward sequence of familiar songs. The cabaret format also allows the performers to play with the material, bringing humour and personality into the evening.
For groups, that variety can make the event an easy choice. It does not depend on everyone sharing the same musical preferences or being equally enthusiastic about Christmas. The show offers different ways to participate, from singing along to simply enjoying the performers and their guests.
It may also appeal to those who enjoy live performance but want something less formal than a traditional concert. The combination of music, comedy and audience interaction creates a more relaxed atmosphere, while the special guests give the programme a changing element across the season.
With three dates in the lead-up to Christmas, the production arrives at a useful point in the calendar. It offers a chance to gather before the final rush of shopping, family commitments and end-of-year celebrations takes over.
An Accessible Evening At Riverside Live
Riverside lists PHIVE as wheelchair accessible, with Companion Card accepted and an assistive hearing system available through FM. The performance is in English.
Visitors who require access assistance can consult the venue's accessibility information before booking. Those with particular seating or hearing requirements may wish to contact Riverside directly to confirm the arrangements for their preferred session.
The venue for the event is PHIVE, 5 Parramatta Square, Parramatta NSW 2150. Riverside Live at PHIVE is a separate performance venue from Riverside Theatres' main Church Street location, so guests should check the address before travelling.
Tickets should be purchased through Riverside's authorised ticketing service. The venue advises that tickets from unauthorised resale agencies may be invalid or cancelled. Prices are correct at the time of publication and may change.
A Christmas Party With A Cabaret Heart
The best festive gatherings often have a little unpredictability. A favourite song comes on, someone starts singing, and the evening becomes more memorable than anyone planned. A Very Cabaret Christmas builds that possibility into its format.
With Libby Wood and Steph Kerby leading the entertainment, Andrew Worboys accompanying the performers and a different special guest each night, the production offers a musical celebration that is both familiar and deliberately playful.
The invitation to audience members to take the stage adds another dimension, while the cabaret setting gives friends and colleagues a chance to make an evening of the occasion. Those who prefer to stay in their seats can still enjoy the music, comedy and festive atmosphere.
For Parramatta audiences, the three-night season at PHIVE provides an opportunity to enjoy a Christmas show that does not take itself too seriously. There will be songs people know, choices they may not expect and, perhaps, a moment when the whole room joins in.
It is a reminder that Christmas entertainment does not always need to be polished into perfect harmony. Sometimes the best way to celebrate is to gather a few favourite people, enjoy a song and allow a little joyful chaos into the evening.
Event Details
Event: A Very Cabaret Christmas
Dates: Thursday 10 to Saturday 12 December 2026
Venue: Riverside Live at PHIVE, 5 Parramatta Square, Parramatta NSW 2150
Performers: Libby Wood and Steph Kerby
Musical accompaniment: Andrew Worboys
Special guests: Erin Clare (Thursday 10 December), Clio (Friday 11 December), Andrew Bukenya (Saturday 12 December)
Friday co-host: Fiona Pearson
Start time: 7pm, as supplied in the event information
Duration: Approximately 3 hours, including an interval
Tickets: Riverside members from $32; non-members from $35. Group and cabaret-table packages are also available. A $7.95 transaction fee applies.
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible; Companion Card accepted; FM assistive hearing system available.
The Cabaret Combo of Four includes premium table seating, a cheese platter, a bottle of bubbles and popcorn for $62.50 per person. A group offer is also available for reserved theatre seating when purchasing four or more tickets in one transaction.
For performance details, ticket availability and booking conditions, visit the official Riverside event page.
With its mix of Christmas favourites, cabaret humour and audience participation, A Very Cabaret Christmas offers a lively way to celebrate the season. At PHIVE, the festive soundtrack comes with a few surprises, a sparkling microphone and the possibility that the next voice on stage could be yours.