Comedy duo Tom Clarkson and Owen Visser, the brilliantly daft minds behind Mr Thing, are back at Seven Dials Playhouse this December with their gloriously unhinged festive show, The Christmas Thing.
It’s part Christmas special, part fever dream: think Morecambe and Wise meets Noel’s House Party after too much sherry. Expect games, sketches, gadgets, live music and the kind of joyful mayhem that could only come from two lifelong friends who never quite grew up. FAB UK caught up with Tom and Owen to talk festive TV nostalgia, audience mischief, and why The Christmas Thing just wouldn’t be complete without a cardboard cut-out of Duncan from Blue.
Hey guys! For those who are new to Mr Thing – can you explain what’s happening this December at Seven Dials..?
TOM
Absolutely not.
OWEN
It’s impossible.
TOM
We could try?
OWEN
Well imagine you’re walking in to a live TV broadcast of a strange 1970s Christmas special. Full of games and songs and stupid sketches.
TOM
But the show and the entire set up is run by two idiots on stage who should have rehearsed it all a lot more.
OWEN
Or at all.
You’ve said you grew up loving the chaos of Christmas TV specials. Which programmes or moments from those broadcasts most inspired the creation of The Christmas Thing?
OWEN
Morecambe and Wise without a doubt! We still watch those Christmas specials every year.
TOM
The one that kept coming up as we were writing the show though was that Bing Crosby special with David Bowie knocking on the door and coming in to sing Little Drummer Boy with him. It’s from such a weird and wonderful era of television that we wanted to bring to life.
OWEN
Or the Noel’s House Party Christmas special!
TOM
Yeah, anything with special guests arriving through a door, covered in fake snow, that’s our jam.
OWEN
Or cinnamon-spiced chutney.
TOM
Somebody has been reading the M&S Christmas Food catalogue.
OWEN
A boy can dream.
The audience are cast as the ‘live studio crowd’. How much do they get involved in the action?
TOM
As much or as little as they like! We always say that there is no obligation to do anything but just have a nice time, and we mean it! The show thrives on the audience feeling as comfortable as possible. Some people get involved and we’re so grateful for it, but others just sit back and enjoy and laugh.
OWEN
And we’re even more grateful for that!
How involved are you in the tech and design side? Do you build the props and gadgets yourselves?
OWEN
We are entirely self-produced and incredibly lucky to have a collective of friends with a wide range of useful skills to help us with our gadgets- it’s a real team effort!
TOM
We’re always picking up even more of those friends along the way, people who thrive on the challenge of creating things like a social media triggered ping pong ball firing bottom, or a remote-controlled Debbie McGee or a Scalextric set programmed to gauge how many of our audience members prefer sprouts over parsnips.
OWEN
All things which aren’t available on Amazon.
TOM
Yet.
You’ve built a bit of a cult following since performing your Edinburgh Fringe runs. What do you think keeps audiences coming back to your particular brand of mayhem?
TOM
We love the audience to feel like they’ve discovered something exciting and new but they’re unsure what or how to describe it to their friends so they bring them along! We love to sneak easter eggs into the show for people who come regularly.
OWEN
The show is a barrage of silliness, sometimes I think people come back to make sure they haven’t missed anything. I was pleased to see a guy come twice in a row last year cos I wasn’t sure if it was his cup of tea. Turned out he’d left his keys.
TOM
And his cup of tea.
Was there a moment growing up when you realised the comedy connection between you two could become something bigger than just inside jokes?
OWEN
We’ve always spent our spare time making silly things but I think spending many summers at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival made us realise there is actually an audience for that level of silliness!
TOM
It really just feels like the entire thing is built for us to make each other laugh so we’re still incredibly surprised that it’s been able to become something bigger than that.
Without giving too much away, can you tease any games, sketches or surprises audiences can look forward to in the 2025 run of The Christmas Thing?
TOM
Ooooh yes, we’ve got lots
OWEN
It’s good we can talk about them now.
TOM
Yeah! We did a London Live interview last year before we’d written the show and all we could talk about is a game we’d written called ‘Pass the Parcel shelf’
OWEN
Still my favourite bit of the show.
TOM
It’s a great bit. Sorry, what was the question?
If young Tom and Owen could see what you’re doing now with The Christmas Thing, what do you think they’d say?
TOM
I think they’d be confused. I definitely thought when I was younger that you’d be forced to grow up and not do what we’re doing anymore.
OWEN
We’re just making each other laugh, and that’s all we ever did.
TOM
Well, we also put fireworks in Mr. Costin’s exhaust pipe.
OWEN
He had it coming. He stole our conkers.
Finish the sentence…it wouldn’t be The Christmas Thing without…?”
OWEN
“A cardboard cut out of Duncan from Blue” it’s one of my favourite gags of the show.
TOM
We’re really trying to get the real Duncan from Blue this year.
OWEN
He’s out of our range.
TOM
Price or vocal?
OWEN
Both.
‘The Christmas Thing’ runs at Seven Dials Playhouse from 2nd – 20th December. For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk/shows/the-christmas-thing