A fun-packed, highly charged, and vibrant night awaits anyone stepping into This Christmas Thing. Walking down St Martin’s Lane with the London Christmas lights twinkling above, I already felt a flicker of festive cheer. By the time I entered the Seven Dials Playhouse, that flicker had turned into a full blaze. This show jolts you straight into the Christmas spirit—there’s no room for “Bah Humbug” here.
From the very start, it’s clear that no one escapes involvement. If you have an unusual talent or quirky party trick, you may well find yourself summoned to the stage. Even the Deliveroo or Just Eat drivers who arrive mid-performance are swept into the chaos, becoming part of the spectacle. This unpredictability is part of the magic: the show thrives on spontaneity, and the result is raucous fun; a real hoot filled with laughter, surprises, and absolute mayhem from beginning to end.
The concept of This Christmas Thing is clever. It’s staged as if we, the audience, are attending a live television recording. We’re prompted to clap when the applause sign lights up, to join in canned laughter when directed, and to provide any other group sound effects required. One lucky audience member even becomes a cameraman. Although the show is anchored by the two-man duo of Tom Clarkson and Owen Visser, it feels much larger thanks to the involvement of the crowd, pre-recorded video clips, and a constant stream of unexpected events, some making it onto video during the show due to some very quick and immediate editing. Without a willing and participatory audience, the show simply wouldn’t work. That’s the beauty of it: the funniest moments often come from ordinary people being thrown into extraordinary situations, unprepared but game for anything.
The production deliberately evokes the old-fashioned Christmas specials of the sixties and seventies. Those shows were often slightly embarrassing, full of variety acts and awkward sketches, but they carried a certain charm. This Christmas Thing lovingly parodies that tradition, poking fun while celebrating the silliness. The sheer number of props used is astonishing, and the duo’s ability to keep track of the sequences, improvise when needed, and maintain energy for nearly two hours is impressive. Their quick-thinking ad-libbing ensures the performance never hesitates, even when the unexpected occurs.
Clarkson and Visser have been creating mischief together since their youth, and their long-standing partnership shines through. Having taken their Mr Thing shows to the Edinburgh Fringe, they now return to Covent Garden with this festive comedy epic. The audience spans a wide age group, yet everyone seems equally appreciative of the slapstick humour and anarchic spirit. What makes the show work is that Tom and Owen are clearly enjoying themselves. They throw themselves into the absurdity without hesitation, embracing the ridiculousness with infectious glee. Watching them feels like watching two friends mess about for the sheer joy of it—except they’ve managed to turn that joy into a polished, professional performance. Who wouldn’t want to be able to do this every night with their mate. As this show incorporates audience twists and turns no two nights are going to be the same and its eccentricity keeps it flowing for almost two hours.
For all its hilarity, the show is far from thrown together. It’s a carefully planned production, and the duo deserve credit for balancing structure with spontaneity. Their sense of fun is contagious, and they succeed in delivering a festive extravaganza that leaves the audience lighter, happier, and thoroughly entertained. Clarkson and Visser not only perform but also write and direct the show, with Emma Chisholm producing.
By the end of the evening, I left feeling far more festive than when I arrived. Perhaps the mulled wine and mince pies at the bar helped, but the real warmth came from the performance itself. This Christmas Thing is a reminder that Christmas entertainment doesn’t need to be polished perfection—it can be chaotic, silly, and utterly joyous. For anyone seeking laughter, camaraderie, and a hearty dose of holiday spirit, this show is a must-see.
The show runs from 2nd December – 20th December 2025 at Seven Dials Playhouse, Covent Garden.
Click onto www.sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk/shows/the-christmas-thing for more information about the show and the team behind it.
Reviewer - Penny Curran
On - 3rd December 2025
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