You know you’ve made it when the panto parodies start up.
Heated Rivalry — the steamy LGBTQ+ drama set in the world of Canadian pro hockey — scored highly among pundits and spectators alike when it first aired last year. Now, London audiences can get a taste of the action live on stage… or at least a cheeky comedy panto version.
Deep-Heat Rivalry — which lands at The Other Palace in Victoria from 11 September-11 October 2026 — doesn’t explicitly name-check Heated Rivalry. But as with Barry Trotter and the Shameless Parody, we can safely assume which source material it’s been plucking pucking inspiration from.
Directed by Olivier-nominated Trevor Ashley, this ‘filthy new parody’ crashes together locker-room drama (complete with emotional meltdowns in tiny towels), forbidden romance and parody power ballads/party pop. It also professes to have ‘no understanding of sport whatsoever’, which is, at least, honest.
Presumably those tiny towels slip at some point, because we’re also promised full-frontal nudity. Then again with leads named Shane Hollandaise and Ilya Stroganoff, we already expected things to get saucy.
Deep-Heat Rivalry, the Other Palace, 11 September-11 October 2026
