What do you get while you mix old style selection, a fake TV present, viewers participation, and lashings of festive cheer? The Christmas Factor, in fact!
Returning to Seven Dials Playhouse following its rip-roaring run in 2024, The Christmas Factor is the work of duo Tom Clarkson and Owen Visser, additionally identified for his or her Mr Factor present. Half TV particular, half reside selection present, The Christmas Factor sees the pair rework the theatre into their very personal broadcast studio the place the viewers members are the particular friends.
As quickly as you step into the primary home at Seven Dials Playhouse, you might be transported into the TV studio and greeted with QR codes to scan. This aids a number of the viewers participation afterward, with members of the group being pulled on stage to participate in plenty of video games and common hijinx, exhibiting their help for workforce sprout or workforce parsnip alongside the best way.
The premise of the present itself is multimedia mayhem, with Tom and Owen aiming to ship their very personal festive particular. Additionally they reside stream with their buddy Puppet Steve who’s supposedly in Lapland to interview Santa, once we uncover that Previous Saint Nick has disappeared. All through the night, there are Christmas video games, video sketches, music, remote-controlled cameras (together with an unsuspecting viewers member changing into digital camera three and sporting a head digital camera for the remainder of the night), and loads of festive twists and turns.
The Christmas Factor channels the power of these basic festive specials that now not appear to exist, however is given a shiny 2025 makeover due to Tom and Owen’s slapstick humour, hilarious popular culture references – together with rewriting lyrics to many a well-known pop track – and ridiculous storyline. There’s a lot occurring all through the present (maybe slightly too a lot in all honesty) however this provides to the chaos of the night.
The present combines comedy with musical theatre, in addition to the abilities of members of the reside studio viewers. All through the present, we’re handled to plenty of showstopping musical numbers, together with a parody of the enduring Sundown Boulevard walk-around which was a specific spotlight. There have been additionally video cameos a lots from the likes of Simon Lipkin, Iain Stirling, and extra, which introduced many laughs all through the viewers.
Tom and Owen ship festive razzle dazzle in abundance. The pair have a beautiful chemistry (which is to be anticipated contemplating their long-term friendship), and actually bounce off one another all through the night. Nonetheless, in addition they stand out in their very own proper, with Tom because the charming emcee, and Owen because the tech wizard.
Quite a lot of the present’s success does additionally depend upon the weather of viewers participation, and fortunately for this specific efficiency, the group have been on prime kind and showcased their abilities all through the night. A few of the highlights included a gargled model of the Nationwide Anthem, somebody doing the splits, and a grown man imitating a child crying.
One of many different huge wins for the present was using expertise all through. From the preliminary QR codes which displayed viewers members’ feelings firstly, a scroll via a pretend Netflix setup, to the unimaginable video recap on the finish, expertise performs a giant half and actually elevates the efficiency.
My foremost qualm with The Christmas Factor is that it does really feel prefer it’s attempting to be too many issues without delay and at instances I felt like this took away from my enjoyment of the present. While the duo saved up excessive ranges of power throughout each acts, the primary half was positively stronger and there have been some bits which felt filler-y all through. Having stated this, you’ve acquired to be a Grinch to not take pleasure in this chaotic Christmas extravaganza and it’s a fantastic panto various for the festive season.
Should you’re not a fan of chaotic comedy and viewers participation then this present in all probability gained’t be for you. Nonetheless, in the event you love a number of silliness and don’t take your self too critically then The Christmas Factor is the right option to countdown to the massive day.
The Christmas Factor performs at Seven Dials Playhouse till December 20. Click on right here for remaining tickets.
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Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in alternate for an trustworthy assessment
