Birmingham Rep will present a world première at Christmas 2025: Sherlock Holmes and The Twelve Days of Christmas, written by Humphrey Ker and David Reed and featuring original songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
This comedy whodunnit is set in Victorian London. In the West End, performers are dying mid-scene. Scotland Yard rules out foul play until Sherlock Holmes discovers an intriguing link to the 12 days of Christmas. He faces a race against the clock to save French hens, find gold rings and rescue Mother Goose.
Ker and Reed said, “there are few things that put us more in the mood for Christmas than all piling into the theatre for some much-needed festive cheer. And what could be cheerier than a series of brutal murders underscored by a few new bangers from the mighty duo of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber?
“Huge thanks to Birmingham Rep for letting us show everybody what we’ve been cooking up with Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas—without a doubt our biggest, daftest and most riotous show yet.”
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber added, “Sherlock Holmes and The Twelve Days of Christmas is pure mischief. It has the exuberance of a Christmas tree, the joy of a panto and a plot worthy of Conan Doyle. It’s wonderful to be working together again on something so unashamedly fun.”
Sherlock Holmes and The Twelve Days of Christmas will be directed by Phillip Breen with Becky Hope-Palmer. It will run at the Rep from Friday 14 November until Sunday 11 January 2026, with a press night on Thursday 20 November.