Simon Cabaret Show in Phuket

At a glance

What Is the Simon Cabaret Show?

Simon Cabaret is the show most people mean when they say they are going to see the ladyboys in Phuket. It opened in 1991 and has run out of the same purpose-built theatre in Patong ever since, which makes it one of the oldest cabaret productions in Thailand. The auditorium seats about 600 people, and on a busy night the theatre turns over close to a thousand visitors across its three sittings.

The performers are transgender and male dancers in elaborate costume, lip-syncing and dancing through a run of set pieces. One number might be a Bollywood tribute, the next a Korean pop routine, a Broadway medley, or a Thai cultural segment with traditional dress. Simon Paradise dancers and a couple of comic turns fill the gaps between the big production numbers. The staging is the other half of the ticket: layered sets, quick scene changes and a lot of sequins under stage lights.

It is built to be family friendly. Children of three and above are welcome, under-threes go in free, and infants below 12 months are not admitted. The humour stays broad rather than adult, so most families with school-age kids are comfortable here. If you want the wider spread of shows and attractions in the area, our Phuket things to do guide maps out the rest of an evening.

Show Timings and Duration

There are three shows a night, seven days a week, at 6:00 PM, 7:30 PM and 9:00 PM. Each one runs for about 70 minutes, so you are out in good time to move on to dinner or Bangla Road. The programme is the same across all three sittings, so pick the slot that fits your evening rather than chasing a particular show.

The 6:00 PM show is the calmest and the easiest to pair with an early dinner. The 7:30 PM sitting is the most popular and the one that sells out first in peak season, so book it a day ahead. The 9:00 PM show suits late starters and anyone combining the cabaret with a night out afterwards. Whichever you choose, aim to arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to collect tickets, use the restrooms and find your seats before the lights drop.

For the live schedule and any seasonal changes, see our dedicated Simon Cabaret show timings page.

Ticket Prices and Seating

Seating runs in three tiers. Deluxe is the standard seat and the cheapest, VIP moves you closer and more central, and VVIP puts you in the front rows for the fullest view of the costumes and choreography. Online booking is the cheapest way in, with entry starting from about THB 561. A ticket bundled with hotel transfers starts higher, from around THB 927. The table below shows indicative fares in Thai baht with an approximate rupee conversion, which almost no ticket site gives an Indian traveller.

Fares are indicative and set by the operator and resellers, not by TravelTriangle. Rupee figures are approximate, converted at about 1 THB = 2.88 INR. Confirm the current tier and price at the box office or when you book.

On the child rate, under-threes are free, and children roughly 4 to 12 pay a reduced fare. For the full price breakdown by seat and age, and to lock a seat before the 7:30 PM show fills, see the Simon Cabaret entry fees page.

How to Reach Simon Cabaret

The theatre is at 8 Sirirat Road, Patong, on the southern edge of Patong Beach, a short hop from the main hotel strip. If you are staying in Patong you can often walk, or take a five-minute tuk-tuk. From Patong Beach and Bangla Road it is a quick metered taxi or Grab ride. From Phuket Town budget roughly 40 minutes by road, and from the airport around an hour depending on traffic.

The simplest option for most visitors is a ticket that includes hotel transfers, which removes the haggling and the late-night ride back. For turn-by-turn directions, parking notes and transfer options, our how to reach Simon Cabaret guide has the detail.

Dress Code, Cameras and What to Know Before You Go

• Dress code. There is no strict rule. Smart casual is the norm, and shorts and sandals are fine. The theatre is strongly air conditioned, so carry a light layer if you feel the cold.

• Photos. Filming and photography are not allowed during the performance. After the show the cast line up outside for photos, and a tip of around THB 100 per photo is the custom.

• Arrive early. Get there 20 to 30 minutes before your slot to collect tickets and be seated before the doors close.

• Language. The show is visual and set to music, so there is no language barrier. Anyone can follow it.

• Duration and kids. At around 70 minutes it is short enough for younger children, who are welcome from age three.

What to Expect and Is It Worth It?

Simon Cabaret is a polished, high-energy variety show rather than a nightclub act. You get about 70 minutes of costume changes, dance numbers and light comedy, staged with the confidence of a production that has been running for more than three decades. It is one of the safer bets for a mixed group, since it works for couples, parents with kids and older travellers alike.

Set your expectations correctly and you will enjoy it. The performance is lip-synced, not live-sung, and the humour is broad. What you are paying for is spectacle: the costumes, the sets and the sheer pace. Travellers who go in wanting a slick, family-friendly Phuket night out tend to rate it highly. Book the Deluxe seats if you are watching the budget, since the theatre is small enough that there is no bad seat, and step up to VIP or VVIP only if you want the front-row detail. For most first-time visitors to Phuket, it is an easy yes.

Across the Phuket trips our team has planned, Simon Cabaret is one of the most requested evening add-ons, most often paired with a Patong dinner and a walk down Bangla Road. It is reviewed for accuracy against operator listings by our Thailand desk.

Simon Cabaret vs Phuket FantaSea: Which Show to Pick

These are the two big evening shows in Phuket, and they are not really competing for the same night. Both celebrate Thai culture, but they are built for different moods.

If you want a short, sparkly show close to Patong nightlife, choose Simon Cabaret. If you would rather give the whole evening to a themed park with elephants, a buffet and a large-scale stage show, read our Phuket FantaSea guide and pick that instead. Many visitors with a spare night do both, one early and one late in their trip.

What to Do Nearby After the Show

Simon Cabaret sits right at the edge of Patong, which is the busiest part of Phuket after dark, so the evening does not have to end at the theatre door.

• Bangla Road. The main nightlife strip is a few minutes away, lined with bars, live music and street performers. It is at its liveliest after 9 PM.

• Patong Beach. A short walk for a quieter end to the night, with a string of beachfront restaurants.

• Night markets. Patong's markets are good for a late bite and cheap souvenirs on the way back to your hotel.

For the full after-dark plan, see our Phuket night market guide and the Phuket nightlife guide.

How to Book and Plan It Into Your Phuket Trip

Booking online ahead of time is both cheaper and safer than turning up at the box office, especially for the popular 7:30 PM slot in high season. Pick your seat tier, add hotel transfers if you would rather not sort a taxi, and keep the confirmation on your phone.

The easiest route is to fold the show into a wider Phuket itinerary so the transfers, timings and the rest of your days are handled together. Our Phuket tour packages can build Simon Cabaret into a trip alongside island hopping and the beaches, and every package is fully customisable. Our travellers have booked hundreds of Phuket evenings like this in the last 90 days.