With a blend of live music, comedy, and cabaret, The Magic of Christmas transforms the venue into a joyful festive haven where performance and entertainment meet nostalgia and community to capture the true spirit of the season.
The roots of music hall stretch back to 18th-century London, when lively performances filled the city’s taverns and coffee houses. Music hall performance was very often paired with food and drink, originating from the tavern culture where audiences could eat, drink, watch performers, and join in the singing – a far cry from the formality of traditional theatres. From these convivial beginnings grew one of Britain’s most enduring theatrical traditions and today, Brick Lane Music Hall is the only permanent venue in the UK dedicated exclusively to British music hall entertainment, presenting this traditional variety style year-round. With the combination of comedy and song, accompanied by festive food – this is variety in its purest form, The Magic of Christmas continues this British legacy with a new seasonal offering for 2025.
The music throughout The Magic of Christmas will celebrate the sounds of the season in all their forms – this year’s production includes a smorgasbord of songs from the warmth of traditional carols to the nostalgia of Christmas chart topping pop hits, from smooth crooner ballads to favourite festive film soundtracks, and even a country Christmas medley.
Food and performance go hand in hand at Brick Lane Music Hall. For ‘The Magic of Christmas’, evening audiences enjoy a three-course Christmas dinner and dancing, lunchtime shows include a full festive lunch, and matinees serve a seasonal afternoon tea. Together, they create a highly sociable, celebratory experience rooted in the long-standing Music Hall tradition of shared entertainment.The result is part show, part celebration and a chance to experience live performance reminiscent of those early Music Hall nights with great food, music, laughter, and good company all under one roof.
Review by Stephen Gilchrist
I have never previously visited The Brick Lane Music Hall. That is absolutely my bad. I have seldom been made more welcome by the smartly uniformed staff than I was at a matinee of this super production. This Music Hall is housed in a resurgently designed and beautifully decorated St Mark’s Church, Silvertown and was founded by show host Vincent Hayes MBE (for services to Music Hall) in 1992. Seating is at tables with tea served (or dinner for evening shows) during the interval
If you’re looking for one show to see this Christmas I could not recommend The Magic of Christmas too highly. It is essentially a 2 hour musical review, Christmas themed, with interpolated comedy from Hayes himself. Hayes is a personable 80-year-old variety comic whose ageist jokes to a largely aging audience (me included) were funny and tinged with tenderness and a smidgen of naughtiness, not least in a turn as a elderly, complaining, married housewife.
The musical sequences were joyfully performed by a talented company of six against some striking, pretty and colourful Christmas settings, stylishly and elegantly costumed with multiple snazzy, chic and classy costume changes and all within a chocolate box proscenium. The staging and design were by talented artistic director Zara Kattan. The imaginative lighting and perfect sound balance was achieved by Lewis O’Brien and contributed to the success of the performance.
Special, exquisitely dressed, guest, talented Victora Yallop played, and moved almost danced with, her violin, introducing character and showmanship into her performance. Andrew Robley who has (previously played ‘Phantom’ in the Lloyd Webber show) entertained us with his delightful tenor. The boys and girls of the sang and moved with polish, giving us some terrific harmonies, supported by an excellent, hardworking three piece band under the leadership of MD Scott Hayes
In summary, the show was immaculate in content, its production values and performance impeccable, and the whole visit a thoroughly delightful experience.
Photo credit: Lucy Hayes
Cast
Host: Vincent Hayes MBE
Violinist: Victoria Yellop
Andrew Robley
William Byrne
Brick Lane Music Hall company: Lucy Reed, Samantha McNeil, Jake Lawrence and Charlotte Fage.
Creatives
Director – Jordan Langford
Choreography – Jack Pallister and Jordan Langford
Musical Director – Scott Hayes
Set Design – Chris Floyd and Shannon Topliss
Costume and Production Design – Zara Kattan
Staging/Dance Captain – Lucy Reed
Lighting Design – Kevin Roach
Sound Design and Technical Manager – Lewis Voigtlander-O’Brien
2nd Keys – Martin Layzell
Drums & Percussion – Andy Pook
The Magic of Christmas
Brick Lane Music Hall, 443 North Woolwich Road, London E16 2DA
19th November – 19th December 2025
Evening, lunchtime, and matinee performances available
Tickets: https://www.bricklanemusichall.co.uk/shows/the-magic-of-christmas/
Matinee Shows with Christmas Tea: 2pm–5pm, £55 p/p
Afternoon Show with Three-Course Lunch: 2:30pm-5pm, £65 p/p
Evening Show with Three-Course Dinner and Dancing: 8.15pm-10:45pm £69.50 p/p
Group rates (10+) available