If you’d told me that a middle-aged Nigerian drag queen would, within an hour, have a Christchurch audience on its feet, singing, dancing and cheering, I’d have called you a liar. Yet, that’s exactly what Le Gateau Chocolat did last night, and has been doing all week. And will be doing until Sunday, so rattle your dags – you do not want to miss out on this one!

I went into this with no expectations. Friends and colleagues had said ‘Oh, he’s great’ but that was about it. I’ve since decided they totally undersold this to me. Chocolat isn’t great, he’s a miracle in lycra.

With a voice that could lure your kids out of their rooms and your grandparents off the tennis court, Chocolat reimagines the music of his (and my) ICONS – Kate Bush, Madonna, Pavarotti, John Travolta, Whitney Houston... The list is massive and not restricted to music; he even gives Maya Angelou a nudge and for that alone I love him.

ICONS isn’t all fun and games. There are moments in this glorious hour when the audience sits stock-still, spellbound and silent, as Chocolat rips his heart out and serves it up. I’m not ashamed to say there were tears last night. This is an hour of honesty, integrity, love, passion and pure unbridled talent.

Chocolat puts on a mask to show us the real man behind it, and he is beautiful.

Take your mum, your dad and your kids. This is a show for all ages, crosses all boundaries and unites the audience in the magic that is life.

And take cash – you’re going to want a copy of his CD after the show to go with your hug and selfie.

Le Gateau Chocolat, until Sat 19 Jan, breadandcircus.co.nz 

IMAGE CREDITS: Hero - Eli Schmidt. Above images - Alison Croft