A perfect winter treat for all children, aged 108 or 5
After a long hiatus, Told by an Idiot is finally back.
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? is the perfect winter treat (with a little added spice!) for all children, aged 108 or 5. Fusing sketch, puppetry, and clowning, the piece tells a simple, lighthearted story, a story we all know about, the story of Santa coming into our houses to deliver Christmas gifts – but with many many twists. The story is stuck at its very beginning – How does Santa go down the chimney? Rather than a complex plot, the show develops through many creative solutions to this very simple question, taking us on a joyful ride with Santa and reindeer into different people’s houses and solving different problems that Santa has to face. Seeing different versions of Santa try their best to conquer these challenges and bring gifts to each household is simply a joy.
Told By An Idiot’s work is a masterclass for theatre-makers, blending and breaking different forms in ways that feel perfectly suited to the space yet delightfully unexpected. The introduction of different forms—puppetry, clowning, singing, dancing—happens in often unexpected places, yet works perfectly for the storytelling at those moments. The sketch-like structure of the show also thrives in the adding and breaking of the forms in each scenario. The set (designed by Sonya Smullen) is incredibly simple, yet utilized to hold so much space for imagination. It consists of a two-story structure, with slides on both sides covered in faux fur. The downstairs space, with only a few columns and curtains, becomes a wonderful playground for a cat & mouse race later in the story. The upstairs space was utilized not only as a stage for the actors but for puppetry as well. Through the magical power of theatre, we adorn the space in our head and finish the design for each space Santa enters.
The brilliant four-person ensemble is worth highlighting. They seamlessly switch between Santas, the reindeer, and other roles, each delivering unique and brilliant performances. Giulia Innocenti gives a masterclass in physical comedy as the laundry lady, delivered with wonderful characterization and ease. Frida Cæcilia Rødbroe, a most amazing actor and clown, is also a force of comedy on stage, impressing the audience with every second of their presence on stage. Mikey Ureta’s Santa gives the most surprises to the audience, whose physicality often delivers the biggest “wow” effect, while Nathan Queeley-Dennis proves himself a highly versatile actor who shines in every part he plays.
Theatre makes magic—and How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney is the perfect reminder of such a simple, yet often forgotten fact.