Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas at Birmingham Rep Review
Photo by Pete Le May
Written by Roby for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Sherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of Christmas is making its world premiere at the Birmingham Rep this festive season and makes the bold claim that it is ‘for everyone aged 10 to 110’… correct! The show is simply a festive theatrical delight for all ages and could easily play London or tour the UK next Christmas.
The show, written by Humphrey Ker and David Reed, follows Sherlock Holmes as he tries to solve a series of murder cases related to ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’. It combines elements of musical theatre, comedy and pantomime to create a unique genre of theatre that although could do with a few more pantomime-inspired elements, works very well. Ker and Reed’s book truly is the reason this works so well – it’s well-thought out and extremely gripping – leading up to a brilliant, shocking, and hilarious ending. Whilst there is one small flaw in the fact that Sherlock Holmes (an ordinary man although a great detective) is simply “immune” to falling off a building, it is quickly laughed off and doesn’t really affect the plot too much. The show is generally paved well, although some bits in the second half can be a little bit long.
The humour within the show is great; there is lots of innuendo, slapstick moments and classic, punny one-liners (although I wish there were more of these!). At times, a few of these jokes were not given enough time to land, but overall, the show was very funny. The constant breaking of the fourth wall added to this hilarity, with many references to the reuse of scenery, the orchestra pit, promotion of tickets and merchandise, and ensemble characters “milking their one scene”. The instrumental sequence in the second half is very funny and almost feels like a silent film. Another one of my favourite comedic moments was the reoccurring appearance of Ernie (Susan Harrison), a “10 year-old boy played by a 45-year-old woman”. Harrison plays this character to perfection and steals every scene she is in.
There are, of course, many other standout performances. David Reed is a particularly strong performer, perfectly encapsulating Dr Watson and moving from strength to strength throughout the show – Reed is funny, genuine and delivers a lovely solo ballad in the second half, which is one of the strongest songs in the show. Humphrey Ker (who plays Sherlock Holmes) is a strong leading man, who has great chemistry with both Dr Watson and Athena Faversham (played by Helena Wilson). Faversham and Holmes’ playful rivalry is conveyed brilliantly by Ker and Wilson, who clearly work well together. Dame Arthur Stone (Cameron Johnson) is also a scene-stealer, whose death is truly suspenseful and extremely well executed. Johnson is clearly a natural comedian and demonstrates great range throughout this performance.
Mark Bailey’s design is superb – set and props are used effectively and whilst some scene changes may be slow, they are all extremely slick. The costume design is also brilliant, shining during the performance for Queen Victoria where the cast don Christmas pudding, crackers, and present outfits. Hats off to all the creative team as well: Phillip Breen and Becky Hope Palmer (directors), Georgina Lamb (choreographer), and Christopher Mundy (musical director).
Whilst this show doesn’t try to be a musical, it has music and lyrics written by musical theatre legends Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. As expected from Lloyd Webber, the music is good, but repetitive and feels familiar. Rice’s lyrics are witty but can also be repetitive at times. I really enjoyed the opening number of the show and although it’s certainly not the triumphant reunion you’d expect after nearly fifty years of working separately to each other, Lloyd Webber and Rice’s original songs suit this show well.
Overall, Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas is a triumphant, festive treat; it’s witty, suspenseful and unapologetically theatrical. I hope this show has a bright future ahead as I can see this being a Christmas family favourite.
Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas plays at Birmingham Rep until 18 January 2026
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
