Header: Thaddeus Hink
Buckle your theatre seats and grab your teacups, British comedians James and Jamesy are bringing their unique brand of hilarity across Ontario this holiday season. Reminiscent of classic British pantos, O Christmas Tea is rich with wordplay, comic physicality, and cleverly crafted interactive elements, yet it is the duo’s boundless imagination and endearing chemistry that provide the real magic of this play.
O Christmas Tea comes to Ottawa on Sunday December 18th for matinee and evening performances at the Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe, Mainstage.
“The Christmas season is the time of year when we are encouraged to dream big, embrace imagination, and celebrate child-like excitement for magic and merriment,” says Alastair Knowles (Jamesy), the quirky half of London’s three-time Impresario Award-winning duo. “With O Christmas Tea, we bring together multiple generations in the theatre, laughing and enjoying each other's company and ours.”
James and Jamesy have already won just about every comedy award they can, and the reason is obvious: these two are exceptional. Stepping away from their Off-Broadway run, the duo are set to delight thousands of Ontarians this holiday season.
Juxtaposing British propriety with an unabashed love for the unexpected, O Christmas Tea casts away the conventions of theatre and joyously breaks the fourth wall. Just about the only thing these two don’t break is their Royal Doulton tea set in this wonderful evening of play and whimsy.
PHOTO: Michael Hintringer
“In O Christmas Tea, Jamesy’s wish for tea is granted, but with catastrophic and uproarious repercussions,” says Aaron Malkin (“James”). As tea fills Jamesy’s flat, then bursts through the fourth wall to flood the world, the performance spills from the stage into the audience. Classic aquatic narratives like Jaws, Noah’s ark, and the Titanic are all steeped together and thematically wrapped up in the Christmas spirit. With the help of the audience, the duo find innovative and hilarious solutions to keep them afloat as they try to make their way back home.
Redefining immersive theatre, these masters of physical comedy bring the audience on a jolly escapade with surprising depth in this joyous celebration of friendship at Christmas.
Leap to get tickets!
O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy is touring 31 cities throughout the province including:
Dec 15: Orléans Shenkman Arts Centre, 3 pm & 8 pm
Dec 18: Ottawa, Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, 3 pm & 7:30 pm
Tickets & Info at www.OChristmasTea.com