Taylor Mac Brings Two Landmark Performances to London This Winter

Taylor Mac is bringing two gloriously unconventional performances to London this winter, with an orchestral UK premiere at the Royal Festival Hall in November followed by the UK live premiere of Holiday Sauce at Soho Theatre Walthamstow in December.

Taylor Mac: A 24-Decade History of Popular Music

On Thursday 26 November 2026 at 7.30pm, Taylor Mac joins the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall for the UK orchestral premiere of an abridged version of A 24-Decade History of Popular Music.

The genre-defying work travels through 240 years of American history using popular song, performance art, storytelling and spectacular costume. The London performance is expected to run for approximately two hours, with Alan Pierson conducting, Matt Ray as Mac’s music director, orchestral arrangements by Ted Hearne and costume design by Machine Dazzle.

Where: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre
When: Thursday 26 November 2026, 7.30pm
Age guidance: 10+; under-12s must be accompanied by an adult
Tickets: from £21 via Southbank Centre (prices may change)

If you’re planning more culture around the South Bank, you can also read our Olly Alexander at Southbank Centre guide and see what else is coming to the Royal Festival Hall in our Cirque Alice London 2026 guide.

Taylor Mac: Holiday Sauce

Then Christmas gets considerably less traditional. Holiday Sauce runs at Soho Theatre Walthamstow from Thursday 17 to Wednesday 23 December 2026, bringing Mac’s irreverent festive world to a UK audience live and in person for the first time.

Blending music, burlesque and theatrical mischief, the show looks at Christmas, chosen family and the stranger sides of the festive season. Mac is joined by long-time collaborators Machine Dazzle and music director Matt Ray, plus a live band.

Where: Soho Theatre Walthamstow, 186 Hoe Street, London E17 4QH
When: 17–23 December 2026
Running time: 120 minutes
Age guidance: 16+
Tickets: from £29 (subject to demand)

Content advice: Soho Theatre currently advises that the production contains strobe/flashing lights and references to homophobia and/or transphobia, cultural and political issues, and mental health issues. Live-show content can change, so check the venue’s current advice before attending.

Taylor Mac in pictures

Photos: Thor Brødreskift.

Why these two shows caught our eye

This is exactly the sort of pairing we love: huge theatrical imagination, extraordinary costume and queer performance meeting two completely different musical worlds. One night puts Mac alongside the Philharmonia at the Royal Festival Hall; a few weeks later, Holiday Sauce turns the traditional Christmas show on its head in Walthamstow.

For more theatre ideas, head to our Autumn 2026 theatre guide.

Accessibility

Access arrangements differ between the Royal Festival Hall and Soho Theatre Walthamstow, so check the current venue access information when booking if you need step-free routes, wheelchair spaces, companion tickets or other adjustments.

For more South Bank planning, use our Southbank Centre guide.

Booking information

Both productions are currently on sale through their official venues. Dates, prices, running times and access information can change, so check the venue listing before booking or travelling.

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