Following hit runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, duo Tom Clarkson and Owen Visser bring their multimedia festive spectacular The Christmas Thing back to Seven Dials Playhouse for Christmas 2025, following a triumphant 2024 London run.
Part TV special, part live variety show, The Christmas Thing transforms the theatre into a chaotic broadcast studio. Audiences are swept into the on-air mischief as the night unfolds with surprise guests, games, video sketches, music, remote-controlled cameras, drumming robots and plenty of technical hijinks that keep the festive bedlam buzzing.
It channels the spirit of Morecambe & Wise, the energy of The Muppet Show, the chaos of Noel’s House Party, the whimsy of Taskmaster and the glorious stupidity of Shooting Stars – all captured on live cameras that are gleefully broadcasting… to nowhere. This is a show for anyone after a wild Yuletide night out.
Tom and Owen say: "We’re back in the studio ready to go back “on air” with a stocking full of surprises, new games, jingles, and guests so pull on your finest Christmas jumper, maybe quaff an eggnog or two, and join us in Covent Garden for a nostalgic, unpredictable, and festive Christmas special that broadcasts nowhere, to nobody!”
Read more of Tom and Owen's wit and wisdom below and don't forget that The Christmas Thing' is at Seven Dials Playhouse from 2nd - 20th December. Tickets and more information here.
What is the last thing you do before you go onstage? (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren’t sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)
OWEN
We are sat at the Mr. Thing desk, on stage, as the audience come in. But the last Thing we do before we start is give each other a little fist bump.
TOM
Is that what that was? I thought we were comparing moisturisers.
What irritates you?
TOM
The film Jurassic World.
OWEN
Don’t get him started. Please.
What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
TOM
We once took Mr. Thing on a cruise and interviewed a circus acrobat who then showed me how to balance on their shoulders... that felt pretty dangerous.
OWEN
It wasn’t.
TOM
But it looked dangerous!
OWEN
It didn’t.
TOM
Oh.
OWEN
The most dangerous thing was the trapeze artist who lost their job.
TOM
Why, what happened?
OWEN
They were let go.
What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
OWEN
We were on tour once and our dressing room was this disused bar. They still had all the beer taps, but they hadn’t been used in years. And Tom… well…
TOM
I tried to drink the old beer straight from the tap.
OWEN
I think it was more cleaning fluid that you drank.
TOM
I was very ill.
What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
TOM
Hearing you say we have one!
What do your parents (delete as applicable) think of your job?
TOM
We met when we were five basically because our dads were in a pantomime together.
OWEN
So, it’s their fault.
TOM
They made wearing tights look like too much fun.
What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
TOM
Answering lists of questions to try to promote your show.
OWEN
Cheeky.
I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?
TOM
We’ve been making silly Things together since we were five years old and that’s all these shows still feel like to us, it’s just two idiots who are trying to make each other laugh and we don’t think of ourselves as much more than that.
OWEN
We feel very lucky that anyone would want to pay to watch us do it!
TOM
Or that anyone would say we’re good at it! Thank you … and sorry I was rude before about your questions.
How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
TOM
You know when people say ‘don’t quit your day job’ well...we haven’t.
OWEN
Yeah we earn negative money from Mr. Thing! It’s a terrible business model. Like see through airplanes - I just can’t see them taking off.
TOM
But the work we do all influences the show… Owen works as a theatre video and sound tech guy and he uses that to basically operate the entire show from the stage… lighting, sound effects, ping pong firing bottoms, remote controlled Kevin Bacons…
OWEN
And Tom is a comedy director for TV and commercials and so the show is full of video interruptions and live camera gags. Without our day jobs we wouldn’t have the Christmas Thing
TOM
Or anything for lunch.
How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
TOM
I think luck is important in any success. Like comedy it’s all about the timing.
OWEN
That’s deep.
TOM
Thanks! I was going to get it embroidered on a teatowel.
OWEN
A shame we’ve never had good luck.
TOM
Or timing.
OWEN
Or timing. Damn.
Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into third category?
TOM
I can get a bit caught up in the stress of it all but I wouldn’t say I’m tortured or an artist, just someone trying to come up with ideas who has undiagnosed ADHD and a penchant for watching literally anything that YouTube has to offer. Owen’s pretty relaxed though.
OWEN
Does that make me the golfer?
TOM
You DO love a bit of crazy golf.
OWEN
Sort of, but it’s never crazy enough. It’s quite a misleading name.
TOM
Like Poundland.
OWEN
Or Jeremy Irons.
Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?
TOM
Owen
OWEN
My girlfriend.
TOM
Oh. In that case my old family dog Baxter.
OWEN
Ooo yeah! Is it too late to change mine?
Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it’s to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).
OWEN
I don’t think either of us have kept anything tidy ever.
TOM
Drawers are made to be messy! That’s surely the point of drawers?
OWEN
Yeah, slide the mess away.
TOM
Wasn’t that a dance craze from the 90s?
‘The Christmas Thing' is at Seven Dials Playhouse from 2nd - 20th December. Tickets and more information here.
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