The Other Palace Review 17th September 2026

A gloriously silly, unashamedly raunchy, and relentlessly funny adult panto that takes no prisoners.

If you thought the Edinburgh Fringe had a monopoly on parodies of Heated Rivalry, think again (three I can remember). While the Fringe offered short, sharp bursts of satirical fun, Deep Heat Rivalry stretches the concept into a full-throttle, roughly two-hour adult pantomime (complete with a much-needed interval to catch your breath). Billed right from the opening curtain as “R for Raunchy”, this production trades high-budget spectacle for high-camp hilarity, blending razor-sharp innuendo with spectacular musical talent.

The production has found its perfect home at The Other Palace in Victoria, London a lovely, modern, and fully accessible theatre space. This particular slice of chaotic fun takes place downstairs in the Studio, an intimate setting that suits the show’s high-energy, up-close-and-personal vibe perfectly.

The show’s creative DNA is top-tier cabaret royalty. Co-written and directed by Olivier Award nominee Trevor Ashley (currently commanding the West End as Roger De Bris in The Producers and renowned for his brilliant Liza Minnelli impressions) alongside co-writer Phil Scott, the script is a machine gun of pop-culture jabs. What makes their writing truly excel is its universal appeal; you do not need to be a die-hard fan of the original Canadian ice-hockey drama to enjoy it. Sitting next to an audience member who had never seen a single second of the original TV series, their non-stop, out-loud belly laughs proved that the comedy lands perfectly for everyone.

The show is anchored by Ross Chisari as Puck, a brilliant double entendre referencing both ice hockey and Shakespeare. Dressed in skimpy, camp attire, Chisari serves as the master of ceremonies, introducing scenes in a mock-Shakespearean verse that sets a wonderfully chaotic tone. From there, the show hits all the key beats of the story, stripping it down to its funniest elements (and occasionally stripping the cast down to near-nudity). Speaking of the cast, if you are looking for a bit of eye candy, you are in luck; the male actors are considerably more stacked than the stars of the original TV series, much to the absolute delight of the audience.

The undisputed powerhouse of the production is Diana Vickers (the X Factor alumna who has long since proved her theatrical mettle). Billed as The Diva, Vickers takes on many female roles, some from the TV series and occasionally pivoting into pop-culture parodies of Titanique, Wicked, Traitors for example. Her comedic timing is sharp, but it’s her vocals that truly steal the spotlight, belting out comedy songs with a fierce, effortless power that grounds the silliness in genuine musical excellence.

She is backed by a stellar male cast. Sario Solomon (winner of BBC’s Let It Shine) brings fantastic vocals and charm to the role of Shane Hollanaise, while Jason Leigh Winter turns in a brilliant comedic performance as the rival, Ilya Stroganoff. Winter maintains a pitch-perfect, hilarious Russian accent throughout the entire show, which adds another brilliant layer of comedy to his scenes. The vocal talent across the board is exceptionally strong, resulting in standout musical highlights, including a genuinely inspired, show-stopping Cher parody song titled “Am I Stroganoff?” (sung to the tune of Strong Enough) that brings the house down.

Directorially, the show embraces its limitations. The staging is fairly simple, fitting snugly onto a smaller stage where the focus remains exactly where it should be: on the larger-than-life comedy characters. It embraces a traditional panto spirit with frequent audience participation, a risky element that paid off beautifully, keeping the energy electric and the crowd fully invested. A massive shout out must also go to Angie White for the costume design, the fabulous, camp outfits were far more impressive and numerous than you would ever expect for a studio show.

Deep Heat Rivalry doesn’t take itself seriously for a single second, and that is its greatest strength. If you love off-the-scale innuendo, top-tier vocals, and a healthy side of campy exhibitionism, this is a brilliantly fun night out.

Show	Deep-Heat Rivalry
Dates & Times	17 Sep – 11 O
Venue	The Other Palace
Writer and Director	Trevor Ashley
Tickets	The Other Palace