London Christmas 2024 Artists

Aaron Marshall

Ashley Stroud

Ashley Stroud is a Chicago-born singing, dancing, show-stealing performer and is the newest addition to the London scene. She first emerged into the mainstream as the star of viral concept Postmodern Jukebox where her imaginative performances have been viewed over 40 million times to date.

Ashley made her cabaret debut as the star of infamous theatre of varieties The Box in NYC and London. She then went on to star in the premiere of alt-cabaret show Blanc de Blanc Encore at The Sydney Opera House, where critics dubbed her the “modern day version of Josephine Baker”. Ashley is now performing on the London cabaret scene, continuing to light up the stage anywhere in the world.

Cabaret Décadanse

Hailed as “an absolute gem” by international critics the extraordinary puppets of Montreal’s Cabaret Décadanse perform in sensual, surprising and hilarious short musical numbers that range from Broadway to pop. It’s a rocking, sassy, sexy and hilarious puppet feast for adults, in which the puppeteers, André-Anne LeBlanc and Alexandre Iannuzzi are as mesmerizing as the puppets themselves. We are excited to bring these original cast acts back to La Clique.

Charlie Wheeller

Charlie Wheeller grew up in the port city of Southampton, and as a young man ventured to London to train as a circus artist at the National Centre for Circus Arts.

It was there that he met a lifelong partner in the Cyr Wheel. They haven’t really stopped spinning together since, exploring the vibrant corners this world has to offer from the colourful parties in Sao Paulo to the extraordinary landscapes of Australia.

He co-founded Barely Methodical Troupe and continues to create an acrobatic language that speaks to audiences across the globe.

Chastity Belt

Chastity is one of the UK’s most beloved cabaret artistes; a well sought-after Compére, Mistress of Ceremonies and Chanteuse. She has been whipping audiences into shape across the country and beyond for nearly a decade and doesn’t intend to stop any time soon! A powerhouse of a singer with a razor sharp wit, she really is the thinking man’s crumpet and the crumpet man’s thinker. Like most modern women she extols the virtues of forward-thinking and gin-drinking, but will happily drop it all for a suitable suitor with a beard and strong shoulders! When not being a Mistress of Mirth she can be found on the West End; acting, producing, directing and teaching across the capital. Chastity is the perfect blend of powerful and poised, audiences leave her shows beaming, with their sides split and their cockles warmed.

Daredevil Chickens

With extensive training in physical theatre and comedy, Anne Goldmann & Jonathan Taylor have been touring the world together creating material for the stage, street and circus ring. They have performed their entire performances in Japanese, German, Spanish & French and pride themselves on being able to take any audience on a theatrical ride they won’t soon forget. 

David Pereira

Circus, variety, and cabaret are reimagined in the work of renowned performance artist, David Pereira. Passion and physical prowess dominate his acts as he defies our preconceptions of the corporeal limitations within the realm of performance. Dance, theatre, and art fuse into one as his distinctive stylistic lines and movement mesmerize us with captivating stories of the human condition. His prestige is the result of a lifetime of passion. Practising ballet at 12, being an award-winning gymnast and acrobat by 14, and even joining the ranks of the famed Cirque du Soleil by 18, his ability to encapsulate his immense charisma within his artistry was undeniable. After studying under the greats of acting, clowning, and circus in our generation, at only 22 his original creation “David Pereira’s Trip” became an undisputed Berlin institution, playing at the Wintergarten Berlin, Sziget Festival, The Famous Spiegeltent, and GOP Variete. Elevated to an icon of performance in the Berlin night scene, Pereira’s creative, technical, and innovative acts and bodily creations were propelling him to international stardom. Pereira’s career has been nothing short of remarkable, with starring roles in works such as “Der Helle Wahnsinn”, “Cats”, “Big Fish”, Federico Garcia Lorca’s most complex text “The Public”, and the Olivier Award-winning “La Clique” as well as taking the stage at historic venues like London’s West End and the Folies Bergère in Paris. His inspirational story and unparalleled talent led him to be a speaker for The International Peace Foundation in Thailand and awards from France’s Got Talent competition, Got To Dance Germany, and the European Dance Awards. People the world over have recognized his impact, receiving praise from publications including Culture Fix, the Herald Sun, Broadway World, Arts Hub, Aussie Theatre, and even the New York Times for his virtual experiences.  Worldwide, viewers are stunned and awestruck by his groundbreaking techniques and abilities. As he continues on this exponential path of success, he has cemented himself as a must-see, can’t-miss, once-in-a-lifetime performer. 

Florian Brooks

Florian, gentleman juggler par excellence, has charmed audiences in manifold settings of splendour and champagne.

After performing for Monaco’s royalty, Singapore’s elite and Vegas’ high-rollers, he blithely juggles his way in to surprise you with an elegant, nonchalant, and inventive performance.

Florian displays the kind of juggling that catches the imagination, even of those who disdain the thought of witnessing any legerdemain at all. With his casual demeanor, consider him the Fred Astaire of juggling– the one who made it all look so easy.

Heather Holliday

A New York City native, Heather Holliday started her career as a high school intern at the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. As a teenager, she held the title of the Youngest Female Sword Swallower in the world. This vintage beauty has been seen eating and breathing fire and swallowing swords in music videos for 50 Cent and Rick Ross, television shows around the world, and hosted the MTV Iggy show on MTV. Most recently, she has been touring the world with award-winning Strut & Fret productions LIMBO and LIMBO UNHINGED.

Hugo Desmarais

Hugo Desmarais is a Canadian-born circus theatre artist, working internationally since 1998. Specialising in aerial hoop and loop strap Hugo has previously developed several acts around his own custom-designed apparatus – the cage.

After training at both École de Cirque de Quebec (1997-2001) and École National de Cirque de Montreal (2001-2004) Hugo began his professional career with Cirque EOS in Quebec before moving to Las Vegas as a cast member in Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity.

Hugo was part of the original London cast of La Clique at London’s Roundhouse in 2009 embarking on a multi-city world tour with La Soiree. Hugo is now a key fixture on London’s cabaret scene, performing at venues including The Box, Proud Cabaret, Circus Restaurant, Soho Burlesque Club, Underbelly Festival and Park Chinois as well as appearing as a finalist on France Has Got Talent and recently joining Disney in Hong Kong.

Katharine Arnold

Preforming in shows until 24 Nov

LJ Marles

Performing in shows from 26 Nov

Hackney-born Lj Marles began his circus journey at the age of 17 with BASSLINE CIRCUS as part of a youth project with local teens. From there he continued his newly found passion at the National Centre for Circus Arts, where he specialised in aerial straps. From then he went on to develop his own unique apparatus, tension straps. Lj went on to tour the world performing with companies such as 7 Fingers, Cirque du Soleil special events, and Palazzo. His unique act has won him awards at world-renowned international circus festivals Young Stage and Cirque de Demain.

Mikael Bres

Mikael Bres graduated from school in Avignon, in the South of France, with a major in literature and art. He attended ESAC – the college of circus arts in Belgium and learnt to master the Chinese Pole as well as acrobatics, dance and theatre.

Since leaving, Mikael has travelled the world with circus companies including Circle of Eleven and Cirque Du Soleil. He has worked with Underbelly on Limbo and Limbo Unhinged. Throughout his travels, he has also taught himself to sing, beatbox and play guitar and saxophone.

Miranda Menzies

Miranda Menzies grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland and has since become an international creative. Just returning from Japan, Miranda has spun across Europe, London’s West End, the Middle East and America. Having trained in Acting and Physical Theatre, she now performs her unique lyrical style of aerial contortion, specialising in the ancient art of Hair Suspension. It will be her second season with La Clique.

Miss Jolie Papillon

Performing in shows from 26 Nov

Miss Jolie Papillon is an award-winning Burlesque Superstar and one of the most highly skilled showgirls across the world with the reputation of “Burlesque Royalty”.

Miss Jolie is an exquisite dancer and songbird, trained at one of Europe’s most prestigious musical theatre academies before making her mark on the glamorous world of burlesque. She has recently been voted one of the Most Influential Burlesque Industry Figures in the U.K. as well as Worldwide. Find Miss Jolie currently headlining the historic Windmill Theatre show in Soho, London. Jolie is the cover girl of the new award-winning book – STRIP | TEASE, the burlesque photography of Tigz Rice.

Jolie has been a pioneer of the burlesque scene in the Middle East, starring in “The Art of Burlesque” at the Casino Du Liban produced by Achillea in 2015. She has appeared in various music videos, on National and International Television, MTV, Made in Chelsea Channel 4 and presented a BAFTA award in 2013. She has entertained celebrities, members of the Royal Family, the King of Saudi as well as being the guest star for clients such as Perrier, Porsche, YSL, L’Oréal and many more.

Born in Italy in Federico Fellini, Miss Jolie Papillon is the epitome of a golden-age, Italian movie star – exotic, glamorous and exquisitely sophisticated. With a passion and dedication to showing the audience the best of burlesque, it is this commitment to uplift and entertain that has made Jolie one of the shining stars of the world-leading, London Cabaret scene.

Myra DuBois

Myra DuBois is the multi-award winning, nationally celebrated and acerbically witted ‘self-declared siren from South Yorkshire’ and Britain’s Got Talent 2020 semi-finalist. A talented comedian, singer and actress, 2021 saw her feature film debut in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and her West End debut as The Lady in Death Drop at The Garrick Theatre. Following sell out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, The London Wonderground and Sydney Opera House she also toured the UK and Australia with her hit show Dead Funny. In 2022 Myra was the winning mentor on Queens For The Night on ITV1, with Coronation Street’s Simon Gregson. She brought her new show A Problem Shared to Edinburgh Fringe before a run in Club Kabarett in Melbourne. 2023 has already seen Myra tour Australia, and her UK tour of her new show ‘Be Well’ is onsale now. Clawing her way onto television, Myra has appeared on BBC1’S Pointless Celebrities, Channel 5’s Big Brother’s Bit on The Side and BBC1s The John Bishop Shop where she performed her signature number, ‘I Know Him So Well’. This caught the attention of Sir Tim Rice who went on to declare Myra’s rendition of the song to be “definitive”!

Oscar Kaufmann

The Flying Gentleman synergises emotive storytelling with innovation. Armoured in a three piece suit, the Gentleman takes what was once an ordinary object, and imagines the extraordinary. With the Hatstand he flies, demonstrating that strength and elegance are not incompatible opposites, but forces that can be combined with dance-like ease. A charming character whose physical storytelling will make your heart beat faster and higher.

Sam Goodburn

Sam Goodburn is a variety, comedy and stunt performer who has a reputation for making riding a unicycle appear both effortless and frighteningly difficult. Nervous joy and authenticity are at the heart of every show Sam performs and you will not be able to watch one of his spectacular tricks without his infectious energy first making you feel like you have got to know him. Sam has recently been on Britain’s Got Talent and made guest appearances in La Clique. He’s been praised as being “head and shoulders above the rest” by the Head of Glastonbury Theatre and Circus.

The Skating Willers III

Tara Boom

Tara Boom, Australia’s infamous loose unit of something. Always put at the back of her dance class growing up, Tara is now well and truly at the forefront of the Australian Circus and Cabaret scene. Having performed with internationally celebrated companies such as Circus Oz, The Briefs Factory, Blunderland and more.

A clown, a juggler and a creative powerhouse, Tara has entertained and confused audiences all over the world. She had her La Clique debut this Christmas, where she dazzled audiences with her mesmerizing foot-juggling act.

Reviews have described her as ‘an act of exquisite beauty’, and ‘the ultimate showstopper’ to “curse this satanic vile trash!… you freak demons from hell”. You never know what you will get with Tara Boom. But what you do know, is that you will not forget it.

Yuliia Pykhtina

Award-winning Ukrainian circus performer Yuliia Pykhtina is a founding member of La Clique. It is time to forget what you think about hula hooping because Yuliia has something extraordinary to show you. Captivating, graceful and impeccably poised, Yuliia turns the ancient art of hula hooping into a spectacular display which is both erotic and exotic. Yuliia has amazed audiences across the world including in the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, France and Europe with her extraordinary re-invention and looks forward to seeing you again in London. Yuliia has been a circus performer since the age of 6 and is the winner of the Bronze Clown at the legendary Monaco circus festival won when she performed with Kiev’s unique and talented Bingo circus group.