Every holiday season, the British comedy O Christmas Tea returns to the stage with the familiar promise of whimsy, wonder, and a dash of the absurd. But if you think you’ve already seen it, think again.
“It changes,” said Alastair Knowles — better known as Jamesy — with a mischievous grin. “It changes year to year, bit by bit. It’s not an entirely new show every time, but we inject it with our latest and greatest ideas.”
This year, those came with an outside perspective. “We brought in a friend, Trigg V. Wakenshaw, from Prague,” added Aaron Malkin, who plays James. “We met him at the Edinburgh Fringe back in 2017 and loved his work. So we flew him out for a ten-day intensive and made some big changes — stuff we’re really excited about.”
That collaboration reshaped how the duo approaches the show’s flow and the audience’s experience. “Your question’s actually pretty germane,” Malkin said with a laugh. “Because our show shifts not just year to year but night to night. The audience is part of the show. We never know what they’ll bring — their energy, their openness — so we work with that. It’s alive.”
Knowles nodded. “That’s what theater is, right? Every performance gives room for a new experience. We love cultivating play among adults — getting them to let loose and rediscover their curiosity.”
He paused, then laughed. “Sorry I was late to this interview — I was building a defibrillator for a handless, hook-armed character who has to revive someone who dies onstage. My room is full of shark jaws and other strange props.”
Welcome to O Christmas Tea, where nothing stays the same for long.
Origins of a duo
Long before they filled theaters with teacups and laughter, James and Jamesy began as an accident of improvisation.
“About 12 years ago, we were just fooling around with a group of physical theater friends in Vancouver,” Malkin recalled. “We were playing a game called switches, where you follow an impulse into something totally new whenever someone yells ‘switch!’”
Knowles laughed. “I switched into this character who had an exaggerated English accent and a very eccentric physicality. He loved tea and thought he was royalty. His name was Jamesy. Then Aaron came up with James — and when we put them together, it was magical.”
That spark grew from a five-minute cabaret sketch into a full-fledged show — and eventually into five productions under the James & Jamesy banner, with O Christmas Tea being the most beloved.
“Something about the names works,” said Knowles. “They’re almost identical, but not quite — two sides of the same coin. Jamesy thinks they’re exactly the same, and James thinks they’re completely different.”
The dynamic between literal-minded James and imaginative Jamesy becomes a lens for exploring the very nature of theater. “Jamesy can see the imagination but not the audience,” Knowles explained. “James can see the audience but not the imagination. Together, they create this shared world where both are possible.”
The world of play
Audiences often compare O Christmas Tea to Monty Python, Mr. Bean, or Dr. Seuss. The duo didn’t set out to emulate anyone, but they understand those comparisons.
“We didn’t create the show to be like anything in particular,” said Malkin. “We just followed what made us laugh. Later, audiences told us what it reminded them of.”
Knowles pointed to more contemporary inspirations. “The Umbilical Brothers from Australia — their pacing and physical comedy are incredible. And Tape Face, who doesn’t speak but involves the audience in hilarious ways. Watching them helped us think about how to make our own audience feel like stars onstage.”
That focus on inclusion and connection extends beyond laughter. “We like to think our show celebrates differences,” said Knowles. “It’s about stepping outside your comfort zone and learning something from that. The love between James and Jamesy — their ability to listen and adapt — that’s the heart of it.”
On love, labels, and laughter
O Christmas Tea also plays with affection and intimacy between the two leads — sometimes with homoerotic overtones that catch audiences by surprise.
“I guess I don’t use labels like ‘straight’ or ‘gay,’” Malkin said thoughtfully. “What’s important is showing love — even if one of the characters struggles to express it. It’s not about fitting into a category; it’s about connection.”
Knowles chuckled. “There’s definitely sexual innuendo in our show — and yes, a fair bit of homoeroticism. Every now and then someone complains, ‘I didn’t pay $80 to see two men flirting!’ But the rest of the audience usually loves it. For us, it’s just part of the play.”
He grinned. “We’re totally comfortable with that territory.”
Evolving the tea party
Even after more than a decade of performing together, the pair continues to reinvent.
“We’re working on a new show called Fool’s Gambit,” Malkin revealed. “It’s an hour-long improvised piece that melds clowning with emotional, physical storytelling. We’ve been developing it since COVID, and it’s scary — but exciting — to give ourselves that kind of freedom.”
Still, O Christmas Tea remains their crown jewel: an ever-changing mix of comedy, imagination, and heart. Much of it still evolves through improvisation.
“Some of the best bits come from accidents,” Knowles said. “One night, Aaron told his favorite joke and no one laughed. So we did it again — and again — turning it into this ridiculous loop until the whole place was roaring. Our technician said, ‘You have to keep that!’ So we did.”
Malkin laughed. “That’s how half the show gets written. We improvise, then trim and polish until it fits into that perfect 90-minute window.”
Rediscovering joy
At the end of the day, James & Jamesy see O Christmas Tea as more than just holiday entertainment.
“One Toronto reviewer said our show reminds adults of the children they once were,” Knowles recalled. “And I love that. People leave with this elated spirit — like a part of themselves has been reawakened.”
Malkin nodded. “Some people have a hard time playing, a hard time relaxing into joy. But that’s the invitation. It’s okay to look silly, to laugh, to connect. That’s what theater — and the holidays — are all about.”
James and Jamesy Present O Christmas Tea at various venues all across Northwest Washington from November 19 to 26. For more info and tickets, visit https:ochristmastea.com .
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