As we head into the holiday season, it’s normal to ponder life’s big questions. Is there a God? If there is, what does God look like? And, perhaps most intriguingly, what would God say about our world today?
Well, it turns out, for Victoria comic Mike Delamont, God is a character with a sharp wit, a flowing dress and a Scottish accent.
Delamont brings these existential musings to life through his comedic stage shows, God Is A Scottish Drag Queen. And once again this year, he’s giving audiences a festive treat by bringing a Christmas twist to the show, with Christmas Specials slated for Courtenay, Nanaimo and Duncan in November.
With a mix of humour, warmth and a touch of irreverence, Delamont reimagines the divine as a sassy figure who reflects on the quirks of the modern world with biting commentary and charm.
The shows blend observational comedy and satire, offering a playful take on everything from biblical stories to the everyday absurdities of life, all through the lens of this uniquely reimagined God.
“The Christmas special is actually my favourite of the shows,” Delamont says. “It became a sort of history of the holidays, covering Yule, Saturnalia, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa – all these different traditions that form this time of year. It’s like a potluck of holidays, where everyone has their own unique way of celebrating.
“I think it’s the most successful of the shows in the series because it’s all about eggnog, mistletoe and that really accessible stuff.”
Delamont collaborates with his wife to write new material each year and workshops it in front of test audiences to keep the shows fresh and timely.
“It’s a sweet little show, and the idea is that God is the comedian, not the punchline...I wanted to take a look at things like: What does God say when they stub their toe? I wanted to take a very human look at Creation.”
He emphasizes that comedy is “pass/fail” – it either makes people laugh or it doesn’t – and jokes that don’t land are reworked or dropped. His aim is for the performances to feel effortless, like a “duck on the water,” with the hard work and careful timing invisible to the audience.
Given the charged nature of religious themes, I asked him about the risk involved in portraying a deity.
“It’s a sweet little show, and the idea is that God is the comedian, not the punchline,” says Delamont, who has been playing – and iterating – this character for 18 years. “So I wanted to take a look at things like: What does God say when they stub their toe? I wanted to take a very human look at Creation.”
But why create a Christmas Special at all?
“It’s the least biblical of the shows, even though it touches on all the religious celebrations,” Delamont says. “There’s a sweet, nostalgic, heartwarming energy to it, which appeals to people. And every year, audiences are always inundated with the same Nutcracker performances, the same Christmas carols. So having something that’s Christmas-y but a little different has really appealed to people. It’s a fun show, and I really enjoy doing it.”
Island performances:
- Nov. 26: Courtenay, Sid Williams Theatre
- Nov. 28 Nanaimo, Port Theatre
- Nov. 29: Duncan, Cowichan Performing Arts Centre.
Find details about shows in other locations at mikedelamont.com
