Review: Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas at The Rep, Birmingham

★★★★

The world premiere of Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas plays at The Rep Theatre, Birmingham this festive season. Penned by Fringe-favourites and the writers behind The Penny Dreadfuls, Humphrey Ker and David Reed, this winter whodunnit also features brand new songs from two renowned musical theatre songwriters and composers, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, working together as a dynamic duo.

Centring everyone’s favourite detective, Sherlock Holmes (Humphrey Ker), the show takes audiences to Victorian London and the iconic 221b Baker Street, as he works to solve the ’12 Days of Christmas’ murders before it’s too late. Not only is he working against the clock but he is also competing with a new detective on the scene, Athena Faversham (Helena Wilson). Featuring incredibly detailed set pieces, the show is a real delight to see, as you move from setting to setting across wintery London.

As well as introducing new characters including Faversham and exciting ‘panto-style’ villains, the writers and actors cleverly bring to life the Arthur Conan Doyle characters we know well including: Dr. John Watson (David Reed), Inspector Lestrade (John Kearns), Mrs Hudson (Magaret Cabourn Smith), and of course Sherlock Holmes with all his swaggering ‘know-it-all’ reputation.

The script takes time to mock Sherlock tropes, poking fun at his patronising manner and ego. The writing also makes commentary on Holmes and Watson’s relationship with subtle nods to its potential queerness, as well as commentary on sexism through Faversham’s storyline, highlight misogyny with light wit.

Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas is an interesting combination of murder mystery play, musical and pantomime that somehow works. Filled with pithy humour, innuendos, euphemisms, silly jokes and breaking the fourth wall, the show is a murder mystery full of laughter. Alongside the comedy, the unravelling mystery is compelling, weaving tension and drama that explodes in jump scares and elaborate twists. The production, could do with some cutting down to make it sharper and faster paced but ultimately, it is a fun foray into a farcical side of Sherlock Holmes.

Between all the action and humour, of course are the original songs, from the powerhouse team of Lloyd Webber and Rice, played by a live orchestra, featuring upbeat and lively numbers as well as more emotional ballads. For a Christmas show, the livelier, catchy songs are definitely more effective in capturing the yuletide joy you would want from this production.

Chaos and raucous fun are ‘elementary’ in this production which is a ‘true study’ in festive entertainment. A unique murder mystery musical filled with comedic Christmas spirit and panto humour, the game is well and truly afoot in Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas.

Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Day of Christmas is solving mysteries at The Rep, Birmingham until Sunday 18th January 2026.

This review was written following a press invite to the production.