Birmingham Rep has today announced that its highly anticipated World Premiere of Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas has been extended to mid-January due to popular demand.
This brand new play, penned by writing duo Humphrey Ker and David Reed, and featuring original songs by the legendary musical theatre duo Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, opens at The Rep on Friday 14 November and will now run until Sunday 18 January 2026 – an additional week of performances added.
As well as writing this brand-new comedy whodunnit, Humphrey Ker and David Reed also star as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson respectively and are joined by award-winning comedian and actor John Kearns as Inspector Lestrade and comedy actress and podcaster Margaret Cabourn-Smith. Further casting to be announced.
Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas will be directed by Phillip Breen with Becky Hope-Palmer. Phillip Breen’s credits include Anna Karenina at Chichester Festival Theatre, Crime and Punishment in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong Arts Festivaland The Comedy of Errors for the RSC. Becky Hope-Palmer’s credits include Letters to Our Future Government forTraverse Theatre, Romeo and Juliet for Petersfield Shakespeare Festival and Bridezilla and the Orchard of Sin for The Traverse Theatre/Play and a Pint.
The creative team also includes Mark Bailey (Designer), Anna Watson (Lighting Designer), Georgina Lamb (Movement), Renny Krupinksi (Fights) and Helena Palmer (Casting).
It’s Christmas in Victorian London but in the West End – where dreams come true and nothing bad ever happens – a flurry of performers are suddenly dying mid-scene. Scotland Yard rules out foul play… until the world’s greatest consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, discovers an intriguing link to The Twelve Days of Christmas.
The game is afoot!
Racing against the clock to save French Hens, find Gold Rings and rescue Mother Goose, Sherlock plunges himself into mortal danger. Will this really be the last stand for our hero or will his trusty sidekick Dr Watson and rival hotshot detective Athena Faversham ensure he lives to consume another Christmas Pudding…?
Humphrey Ker is an Emmy and Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning writer, actor and football club director. He is known for his roles on NBC’s American Auto, FX’s It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and BBC1’s Daddy Issues, alongside appearances on Have I Got News For You, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Welcome To Wrexham. As a writer he has worked for three seasons on Apple TV Hit Mythic Quest,written a myriad things for R4, BBC2 and Channel 4and the stage and feature film versions of Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher.
David Reed is a playwright, actor and comedian. His television roles include Endeavour, Beyond Paradise, Father Brown, Ghosts, Citadel and Daddy Issues. For radio he has written comedy plays Guy Fawkes, Revolution, Hereward the Wake, Macbeth Rebothered, The Odyssey, Curse of The Beagle, Le Carré On Spying, Don Quixote, Hadrian’s Beard, Richard III Rebothered and Severus
(Co-written with Paterson Joseph). He is the writer/creator of Audible Original series Zeroes and BBC3 animated sketch show The Real History of Sex. His television writing credits include Daddy Issues & It’s Kevin. In 2022 he wrote and starred in his debut theatrical production, Guy Fawkes, for York Theatre Royal.
John Kearns is an actor, writer and the only comedian to have won both the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for Best Show and Best Newcomer in the awards’ 40-year history. He was a breakout star of Series 14 of Taskmaster and his wider credits include the lead role in cult hit BBC3/Netflix sitcom Top Coppers, co-host of Guessable alongside Sara Pascoe and team captain Alan Davies, Would I Lie To You?, Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and House of Games. John’s fifth stand-up comedy hour The Varnishing Days was filmed and released as a special on Sky and Now TV in August 2024 following a sold-out nationwide tour and his new show will tour the UK in 2026.
Margaret Cabourn-Smith’s theatre work includesSpike (Watermill Theatre & National Tour), Dick Whittington (Lyric Hammersmith), The Half, The Congress of Oddities (Pleasance), John Finnemore’s Flying Visit (Tour/Yellow Car Productions), Di & Viv & Rose (Stephen Joseph Theatre). Her TV and film credits include : Cheaters, Daddy Issues, Eastenders, Motherland, Catastrophe, Miranda, Buffering, The Hustle, Holby City, Bucket, The Agency, Evermoor, The IT Crowd, Father Figure, In and Out of the Kitchen, Fresh Meat, Bleak Old Shop of Stuff, We Are Mongrels, Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show, Psychoville. Her many radio credits include” Randy Feltface’s Destruction Manual, The Archers, Sick, Woman’s Hour, The Penny Dreadfuls, John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme, The Missing Hancocks, The Pin, Ed Reardon’s Week, The Brig Society, The Secret World, Beauty of Britain, Newsjack, The Now Show, Another Case of Milton Jones, Bigipedia, In and Out of the Kitchen, Sarah Millican’s Support Group, Brian Gulliver’s Travels. Amongst her podcast work is: Crushed By Margaret Cabourn-Smith, The Guilty Feminist, Do the Right Thing, Inside the Comedian, Hoovering and Smershpod.
Sherlock and the 12 Days of Christmas is a Birmingham Rep production.
Originated and developed by Donald Rice and Eva Rice for Heartaches Limited.
A laugh-out-loud festive murder mystery for all the family, join us at 221b Baker Street this Christmas for mischief, mayhem and a Partridge in a Pear Tree!
For ages 10 to 110!
Coming to The Rep from Friday 14 November 2025 – Sunday 18 January 2026.
To book simply visit Birmingham Rep at birmingham-rep.co.uk or call the Box Office on 0121 236 4455 (Monday to Friday from 12pm to 6pm. Saturdays 12pm to 6pm, or 4pm if there is no evening performance scheduled).