The Lumber Room: THEATRE REVIEW: Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas

THEATRE REVIEW: Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas

Written by Humphrey Ker & David Reed, with songs by Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd-Webber.
Directed by Phillip Breen.

This was a show that I had been looking forward to since it had been announced over a year before, with two-thirds of ‘The Penny Dreadfuls’ Humphrey Ker & David Reed presenting a comic take on Holmes and Watson investigating a serial killer who is killing in line with ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’, with new songs written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber (collaborating for the first time in 13 years). Aware how popular it was likely to be I booked almost as soon as tickets were released.

I also made sure that I was sitting in my seat in the second row of the Stalls at Birmingham Repertory Theatre (the Rep) in plenty of time for the start. Glancing through the programme, I noted that there were a total of six new Rice/Lloyd Webber songs (and ‘Variation 23’ previously danced to by Wayne Sleep).

The lights went down, and ‘the magic’ certainly happened, as I was transfixed from the opening number to the denouement of Act 1 where all seemed lost. I found myself laughing uproariously and even a little anxious in the one slightly scary scene. I couldn't wait for the interval to be over and for the story to restart. It all came to a wonderful end, and I left the theatre still smiling from ear-to-ear.

Ker and Reed appeared as Holmes and Watson respectively, with both amazing (as was their script), particularly Reed in his big song of Act 2, and neither taking their performance into the realms of caricature. You could really believe them as friends (as they are in real life). They were ably supported by the wonderful Margaret Cabourn-Smith (already a favourite of mine) as Mrs Hudson (and a few other parts) and comedian John Kearns as Inspector Lestrade. I would also wish to praise Helena Wilson as female Detective rival Athena Faversham and Susan Harrison as Ernie, polio-ridden Baker Street Irregular and newspaper boy.

The new songs were also wonderful, with the two very Sherlockian ‘The Game’s Afoot’ and ‘Houses Are Not Holmes’ being my favourites, and Reed’s Watson breaking my heart in the latter. I was looking everywhere on my way out for a CD of the songs (which there wasn’t one) or a QR Code in the programme to download them. (Again, no luck)

The run had already been extended further into the New Year (18^th January 2026), and I must admit that if it had been running in London, I would have immediately booked another ticket. (Maybe it will next year).

Very highly recommended !