REVIEW: HOW DOES SANTA GO DOWN THE CHIMNEY? @ UNICORN THEATRE

🎭 How Does Santa Go Down The Chimney?

📍 Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ

🗓 Wednesday 26th November 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ENDEARINGLY INVENTIVE FESTIVE FUN

It's the question that has plagued philosophers and small children for millennia, and finally London is attempting to find the answer!

Told by an Idiot, the maestros of magnificent mayhem, have teamed up with the Unicorn Theatre to bring Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen's picture book to delirious, physical life. Forget your dusty pantos and tired traditions - this is the glorious, anarchic dose of festive absurdity we've all been craving.

The casting is, quite frankly, a masterstroke. Giulia Innocenti, Nathan Queeley-Dennis, Frida Cæcilia Rødbroe, and Mikey Ureta (who also choreographs) are an ensemble of pure, unadulterated genius. The precision of their slapstick is a thing of beauty, a perfectly times dance of comedic chaos. One moment they're throwing themselves off a platform with the gymnastic finesse of Cirque du Soleil, the next they're reimagining St. Nick's entry with a prop comedy that's impressively inventive. The audience, aged 2 to 102, was completely captivated by their brilliantly timed moves.

And oh, the audience interaction! The fourth wall isn't just broken, it's smashed to smithereens and repurposed into a festive soundscape. The joy is palpable as the cast pulls children (and one giddy adult!) into their wonderfully weird world. The sheer infectious delight from the audience is a testament to Told By Idiot's ability to fill the space with pure, unadulterated joy.

The live sounds created by the cast are the perfect, playful companion to the visual gags, providing a soundscape that is as inventive as the physical comedy. It's a show that knows when to be loud and boisterous and when to pull it back for a moment of genuine, heartfelt charm. Director Paul Hunter has delivered a production that is ambitious yet accessible, experimental yet entirely embracing.

If you're looking for a seasonal show that reminds you why live theatre is the ultimate form of magic, look no further. This production is a glitter-filled, heartwarming, laugh-out-loud celebration of imagination. Told by an Idiot has created a unique piece of theatre that is so full of life, heart, and honest emotion that you can't help but be completely swept away by it.

This production is primarily aimed towards a young audience, and I was worried that as an adult I wouldn't connect with it, but nothing could be further from the truth. The show certainly doesn't forget the big kids watching, and is a real treat for the entire family.

HOW DOES SANTA GO DOWN THE CHIMNEY? plays at the Unicorn Theatre until Saturday 3rd January 2026, with performances at 11am and 2pm. Click here to secure your seats for this festive family treat.

Now if you'll excuse me, I must go and buy a magic key. Just in case!

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of How Does Santa Go Down The Chimney was gifted by Chloe Nelkin Consulting who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST LIST:

Giulia Innocenti; Nathan Queeley-Dennis; Frida Cæcilia Rødbroe; Mikey Ureta

RUNNING TIME (approx):

55 minutes, with no interval

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