What do you get while you mix old-fashioned selection, a fake TV present, viewers participation, and lashings of festive cheer? The Christmas Factor, after all!
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 recognized for his or her Mr Factor present. Half TV particular, half stay selection present, The Christmas Factor sees the pair remodel the theatre into their very personal broadcast studio the place the viewers members are the particular visitors.
As quickly as you step into the primary home at Seven Dials Playhouse, you’re transported into the TV studio and greeted with QR codes to scan. This aids among the viewers participation in a while, with members of the gang being pulled on stage to participate in quite a lot of video games and normal hijinx, displaying their help for crew sprout or crew parsnip alongside the way in which.
The premise of the present itself is multimedia mayhem, with Tom and Owen aiming to ship their very personal festive particular. Additionally they stay stream with their good friend Puppet Steve who’s supposedly in Lapland to interview Santa, after we uncover that Outdated Saint Nick has disappeared.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 vitality of these basic festive specials that 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 tune – and ridiculous storyline. There’s a lot occurring all through the present (maybe a bit of 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 stay studio viewers. All through the present, we’re handled to quite a lot of showstopping musical numbers, together with a parody of the enduring Sundown Boulevard walk-around which was a selected spotlight. There have been additionally video cameos a a lot 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. Nevertheless, in addition they stand out in their very own proper, with Tom because the charming emcee, and Owen because the tech wizard.
Loads of the present’s success does additionally rely on the weather of viewers participation, and fortunately for this specific efficiency, the gang had been on prime kind and showcased their skills 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 massive wins for the present was the usage of expertise all through. From the preliminary QR codes which displayed viewers members’ feelings at the start, a scroll by a pretend Netflix setup, to the unbelievable video recap on the finish, expertise performs an enormous half and actually elevates the efficiency.
My most important qualm with The Christmas Factor is that it does really feel prefer it’s making an attempt 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 vitality 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 obtained to be a Grinch to not take pleasure in this chaotic Christmas extravaganza and it’s an important panto various for the festive season.
Should you’re not a fan of chaotic comedy and viewers participation then this present most likely gained’t be for you. Nevertheless, should you love a whole lot of silliness and don’t take your self too severely then The Christmas Factor is the proper strategy 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 trade for an sincere assessment
