HUMBUG: SANTA’S CHRISTMAS DIVE BAR EXPERIENCE announces cast and creatives for 2025
Photo credit: Grant Walker
This festive season, HUMBUG: Santa’s Christmas Dive Bar Experience returns to London’s Waterloo promising a full-throttle, immersive blowout of festive magic, music, mayhem and mischief.
Bringing back the Christmas magic to a fully transformed festive venue and delivering a vibrant, immersive musical party experience like no other, HUMBUG run from 18 November – 31 December for a limited seasonal run led by an award-winning cast and creative team. Audiences will wind across a magical immersive walkthrough to discover the secret entrance to HUMBUG, the ultimate christmas dive bar, where they will be treated to a full stage show and party, surrounded by photo-ops, gameplay, photo booths, and best food and beverage this side of the North Pole!
Leading the festivities is a standout cast including stand-up comedian and actor Savannah Beckford, and Scottish actor and musician Heather Gourdie as Daphne the Waitress, bringing an epic level of sass and charm to the role. Returning for a third year, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again actor Perry Meadowcroft will take on the role as Howard the Mailman, as well as stage and screen actor Craig Hamilton (Peaky Blinders: The Rise). Meanwhile, the Big Man himself, Santa, will be played by The Choir of Man actor Curtis Medley, and theatre actor and singer-songwriter Ryan Freebury – promising to spread the festive joy far and wide. Santa, the King of Christmas himself, will be delivering a Christmas musical set like no one else can - let’s see if audience’s can keep his Christmas spirit at 100!
The experience will play out against an incredible Christmas soundtrack from electrifying HUMBUG house band Johnny Whiskey & The Barflies including multi-instrumentalist and theatre-maker Thomas Fabian Parrish and actor and musician Joey Bradick as Johnny Whiskey, actor, musician, vocalist and composer Tomas Wolstenholme and multi-instrumentalist Chris Hampson as Ginger Snap the Bassist. Actor and musician Josh Haberfield and A Midsummer Night’s Dream actor Evie Joy Wright will take on the role of Rudy Blaze the Drummer for the duration of the run, bringing the rock and roll party vibes to every show.
HUMBUG has been created by Speakeasy Project, the brainchild of James Milligan (Co-Founder and Creative Director) and Matt Keeler (Co-Founder, Executive Producer and Writer), both known for their extensive experience within the immersive theatre, experience and events space.
HUMBUG has a truly incredible team of creatives keeping the magic alive throughout the entire run. From direction led by Manreeve Dhothar, with originating director Georgia Clarke-Day, and to costumes by Zahra Mansouri, art direction by Christianna Mason, and choreography by Chris Whittaker, with additional scriptwriting by Cressida Peever, and lighting by Jack Weir.
HUMBUG promises to deliver the holy grail of Christmas parties, guaranteeing a fantastic festive night out complete with themed Christmas cocktails (choose from the “naughty” or “nice” list) and Christmas themed HumBurgers, decadent festive fries and boozy waffles from award-winning street food vendors Bang Bang Burger.
HUMBUG is no ordinary night out – it’s a wild, joy-fuelled celebration packed with great drinks, magical moments, and unapologetic festive fun. This fully immersive experience rewards both the naughty and nice – and promises a night that’s anything but forgettable. It’s the perfect celebration for groups of friends, shared office Christmas parties, or those looking for their new Christmas tradition.
