A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Christmas is the new show from four Oxford Imps, chronicling a particularly disastorous Christmas Eve. Daily Info sat down with the team behind the show, ahead of performances at the Tap Social Movement and the Old Fire Station.
Daily Info: What's A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Christmas all about?
It’s about the joy of commiserating over the reality of Christmas we all experience. More often than not, it’s not the one Coca Cola and other advertisers will have us believe. The turkey is burnt or half frozen, relatives drive you up the walls, the gifts are an atrocity, and you end up hiding in the bathroom to find that moment of peace and joy you thought would be waiting under the mistletoe. And yet, we still love it and do it every year and don’t give up on the hope that this year will be different! This is a comedy, so, of course, we are looking at the vdbusridty of it all with a very loving eye. It’s a feel good show!
DI: What can audiences expect from the show?
Laughter! We mix scripted satirical elements and Christmas songs with an improvised story about a Christmas Eve or day gone wrong. It’s a look behind the scenes of what happens at a family Christmas behind closed doors - honest and awkward at times - but not forgetting that in the end it’s a day of love and joy. We hope everyone will leave the show with their spirits uplifted, taking the Christmas pressures a little less seriously and reconnecting with what matters the most for them in this time of year.
DI: How does one find a new story to tell at Christmas time?
Well we are being very cheeky in that we let the audience decide which story we tell. This is entirely based on their suggestions and experiences. You'd be surprised what people have to share based on their real life experiences!
DI: What's been your worst Christmas experience? And also your best?
One of our cast members recently shared that her grandmother accidentally poisoned the family dog with Christmas treats - vomit everywhere and an evening spent trying to source a vet. I don’t think any of my more catastrophic Christmases can beat that! In terms of my best Christmas experiences, there are lots but I’d say as I travel much and have found myself at times too far away to travel home, I made special memories celebrating with new found friends and sometimes even near strangers and making it a special day special. I remember a potluck and 'Secret Santa' Christmas eve on a rooftop in Buenos Aires, and a massive Christmas Day party with 60+ Italians at 45degrees in Sydney. My Italian roomate at the time brought me along to his family Christmas. It was wild and loud, full of dance and nothing like my traditional family Christmas. But I loved every second of it.
DI: What's your favourite thing about Christmas?
I honestly love everything about it except for the fact that Christmas treats are now in store from September onwards. I go all in - tree, wreath, advent calendars, Christmas markets, baking cookies - what I love most though is teaching my 8 year old nephew who lives in Germany Christmas songs via Skype. Last year we even wrote and performed a little play together on Christmas eve (for family eyes only - for very good reasons).
DI: Can you sum up the show in three words?
Festive, Outrageous, Cheerful
A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Christmas is at the Tap Social Movement on Wednesday 30th November and at the Old Fire Station on Thursday 15th December.