Brighton Dome has been a home to many amazing artists over the years and more recently has undergone a lot of renovative changes. I was delighted when I got the opportunity to review an artist I have admired for a long time on the Drag circuit in the newly renovated Dome Studio Theatre. I’m talking about Le Gateau Chocolat, who dazzled us with his iconically recognisable deep, rich singing voice in his new show Musicals Mayhem: Le Gateau Chocolat, which not only showcased his love for musical theatre but also invited us into his world in a way that felt non-intrusive and warm. Like a cup of rich hot chocolate, as it were.
The stage and part of the technical rigging were lavishly decorated with some of Chocolat’s sparkling costumes, a table and chairs with a makeup mirror, a microphone and a water jug and mug, finishing off the vibrant flair with brightly lit up letters spelling out the word ‘Musicals’. It was simple, yet with the clever usage of the lighting as the audience entered, it became a small insight into a star’s ideal dressing room.
Despite this rather glamorous setup, the performance itself felt rather more intimate than previous shows. Chocolat, after a strong start with ‘Make Your Garden Grow’, welcomed us with his trademark smile and wit, then took a bold move and informed us that the show had been downscaled due to earlier this year having developed some serious health issues, which meant a lot of changes had to be made to make it easier on him. Sadly, at times, it also gave a sense of trying to overcompensate for not giving his best, which meant on occasion, his energy dropped a little. Having said that, this bold move of honesty added a completely new level of intimacy and gave us a much deeper appreciation of who Le Gateau Chocolat really was.
Alongside the deeper moments, we were also treated to lighter, more comedic insights as he brought a different, fresh approach to classic musical numbers such as ‘Cabaret’, ‘Part of Your World’ and ‘Send In The Clowns’. His charisma and charm added a sense of elegance to these moments and reminded us why he was still one of the strongest Drag artists on the circuit at the moment. His stories from on the road completed the experience as he openly talked about the reality of being a person of colour and facing a lot of racial hatred and more. This, for me as a performer, highlighted that whatever we go through as performers may not always be as harsh as those who constantly face prejudice every day. It gave me a deeper respect for him and the way he handled these situations then, and the lessons he took from them to become more resilient.
The real highlight for me was a more downscaled, melancholic version of Abba’s ‘The Winner Takes It All’. Chocolat stripped this classic song down to its bare bones and allowed himself to be slower and more vulnerable with it as he removed his wig and allowed us to see his raw emotions of hurt and frustration toward the person he was singing about. You will need to experience this in order to get the full effect, but whether you are an Abba fan or not, this will be a new interpretation that will give you a different insight into the mind and soul of anyone who is currently going through a radical change in their lives.
Musicals Mayhem: Le Gateau Chocolat changes nightly, but what does not change is an experience that is honest, full of sparkle and wit. Needs to be experienced to be believed.
Review by Sascha Cooper
Serving Do-Re-Mi with Hi-La-Ri-Tea
Your one-stop Musicals Juke Box with a musicals memory as deep as his booming bass vocals, Le Gateau Chocolat is ready to give it all to you this Christmas in an evening of high kicks, high drag and high glamour.
Expect all the good-time feels from Sound of Music to The Snowman, Follies to Frozen, Cabaret to Cats delivered with a mountains of laughs, a stream of nostalgia and a tug at the heartstrings.
MUSICALS MAYHEM: LE GATEAU CHOCOLAT
Brighton Dome
18 to 24 December 2025
