one4review | On 21, Aug 2026

Mr Thing returns for another year of their live “TV” show with their usual mix of bright colours, live music, silly set pieces, audience interaction and far, far more tech than seems sensible. This year the show is a variety talent show, the twist being that the contestants are all members of the audience, each given a chance to perform their signature party piece on the big stage. And, as always, the show is being broadcast nowhere to no one.

The show starts even before you take your seat as audience members are asked to fill in an online form listing, among other things their name, place of origin and what their special talent is. This provides a neat way of singling out potential volunteers without having to grab someone from the front row. Someone is also selected to be the show’s “Camera 3”, wearing a helmet-mounted camera and asked to run up to each performance and get as personal as possible for the close ups.
The action is led by the charismatic and yellow suited Tom Clarkson along with assistance from his comparatively more laconic co-hosts Owen Visser and Puppet Steve (a grumpy purple puppet performed by Dan Clarkson). The presentation is easily TV-quality polished, with a slickness of delivery from everyone on stage that makes the gags slide together smoothly, including sudden musical jingles which start as abruptly as they end and pre-recorded video sections.
Mr Thing are notorious for having a level of tech that would bankrupt a smaller show, from cuts between multiple live camera feeds to a remote controlled ping-pong ball launcher shaped like a bum to the printer on stage audience members can text messages to not to mention the lighting, props and the four piece live band sitting on stage. It’s a bit of multimedia mayhem and there are those who think that it’s probably a bit too much tech for the show but I would argue that’s poor framing – there isn’t too much tech, there simply isn’t enough show. By which I mean – it’s too short. The show has the capacity to easily add another thirty or sixty minutes to its runtime but as it is there’s a little bit too much crammed in alongside the talent show performances, sketches and songs for the little twists, like the textable printer to really come into their own. This lack of space feels compounded by the somewhat early runtime for such an anarchic show. Despite how loveable and family-friendly the hosts are, this level of controlled chaos feels distinctly more late-night than late-afternoon.
But, at the end of the day, the reason the show works and works so well is that it isn’t about the tech, it’s not even about the hosts, wonderful though they are, it’s about the audience members being able to show off. It’s a show that wholeheartedly celebrates people and leaves you with a lovely feeling of joy in your fellow humans. And, of course, it’s very funny.

*****
Reviewed by Tom

17:45 18.45
Piccolo Tent at Assembly George Square Garden

5th-30th August