Casting announced for SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS at Birmingham Rep
Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz
As Sherlock Holmes Day * (22 May) approaches, Birmingham Rep has announced key casting news for the world premiere of the much anticipated play with songs, Sherlock Holmes and The Twelve Days of Christmas, which plays at Birmingham Rep from 14 November 2025 - 11 January 2026.
Humphrey Ker and David Reed, the co-writers of the new comedy whodunnit, will play Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson respectively. They are joined by award-winning comedian and actor John Kearns as Inspector Lestrade and comedy actress and podcaster Margaret Cabourn-Smith. Further casting will be announced soon.
Humphrey Ker said: “As diehard Sherlock Holmes fans, Dave and I are absolutely delighted to have tricked the Birmingham Rep into allowing us to write and star in a wildly silly Holmes and Watson adventure. And to do it with such beloved friends and collaborators in Margaret, John, Tim, Andrew and directing superstar Phillip Breen is the stuff of dreams. Can't wait to don the deerstalker and BECOME Sherlock Holmes.”
David Reed added: “Humphrey and I have been obsessed with the characters of Holmes and Watson ever since we met on a stage in Edinburgh some 20 years ago. We pastiched them in our first radio series The Brothers Faversham and crowbarred them into our turns on BBC Two improvised sketch show Fast & Loose. To now get to play them in earnest is quite honestly a dream come true. And to be joined by the cosmic comedic talents of Margaret Cabourn-Smith and John Kearns as Mrs Hudson and Lestrade is preposterous good fortune. I can’t quite believe it’s real, but barring being framed for a series of genuine murders and having to become fugitives from the law, it appears to be actually happening. I’m pinching myself daily. Incredibly exciting.”
Sherlock Holmes and The Twelve Days of Christmas features original songs by the legendery musical theatre duo Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas will be directed by Phillip Breen with Becky Hope-Palmer, with design by Mark Bailey, lighting by Anna Watson, movement direction by Georgina Lamb, fight direction by Renny Krupinksi, and casting by Helena Palmer.
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...?
For more info on Sherlock Holmes & The 12 Days of Christmas, please click here.