Review: The Magic of Christmas (Brick Lane Music Hall)

I was invited to review The Magic of Christmas at Brick Lane Music Hall, and I was keen to see it, partly because of its festive nature but also because I had never been to this venue before and I was interested to see what it was like.

Brick Lane Music Hall today is located – not on Brick Lane, as it was in its original form – but in Silvertown, in what is also known as St Mark’s Church. This building is such a good choice; when you walk through the door it is almost like stepping through a portal to an earlier time in British history, where Christmas is in full swing and you can turn up as part of a coach party or on your own and feel equally as welcome.

The venue was decorated throughout in a way that put you at the heart of a festive scene, and music was playing to also help set the mood. I was also very lucky to be near the front of the hall.

But the show was not going to start for a while.  At The Magic of Christmas, you don’t just see a performance. You also enjoy – at the time I attended – a three course lunch. They cater for various dietary requirements and the food was absolutely delicious. (If you decide to go to this show, you can opt to go in the afternoon and enjoy an afternoon tea, or in the evening for dinner & dancing as well. These options are all shown on the calendar on the website.) It was such a lovely atmosphere during the meal, with guests talking about how they had been to the venue several years in a row, and the people working there greeting some of the audience members like old friends.

Once everyone had eaten, the tables were cleared and the show began. Normally when I’m reviewing, I write from memory, but I have never been more grateful for the notebook I carry around with me because when I say there were far too many elements to this than I could even attempt to remember, I am not exaggerating; from music to joyful ensemble songs with gorgeous harmonies. All of these were introduced, with various comedy moments by our host Vincent Hayes MBE, who founded Brick Lane Music Hall. Clearly a script was being followed, but there was also plenty of ad-libbing at times, teasing some of the audience and laughing along with everything that was going on. My dad would probably describe his humour as “near the mark” but the audience clearly knew what to expect and gave as good as they got as the banter flew around the room.

The musical entertainment was varied and lively, with wonderful arrangements by Musical Director Scott Hayes.  There were opportunities to join in with familiar songs such as Daisy, Daisy, which seemed to get the audience in the mood to be entertained.

Andrew Robley sang A Holly Dolly Christmas and then moved straight into A Winter’s Tale and this was a lovely performance with gorgeous lighting effects accompanying the music as well. There was then a Memory Medley with songs through the years, some of which people could join in with.  Hey Jude, in particular, seemed to go down well with the audience.

After this, we had a medley of music from Victoria Yellop who was formerly the Royal violinist for Queen Elizabeth.  You could see why. In a dazzling blue sequined dress, she moved around the stage effortlessly, at times dancing along while playing, amongst other things, a selection of Scottish music reminiscent of her time at Balmoral with the Royal Family. This was a stunning performance and a highlight of the show for me.

There was a great mixture of solos, ensemble pieces and smaller group vocals. I particularly enjoyed the 3 part male harmonies during a couple of songs, and every time the 5 part songs were being sung by William Byrne and members of the Brick Lane Music Hall Company; Charlotte Fage, Jake Lawrence, Lucy Reed and Samantha McNeil, the energy levels on stage were infectious, and vocals and harmonies were stunning.

We enjoyed a medley of carols, which the violin was also present for.  And then we were treated to a comedic rendition of Walking in the Air which was entertaining and funny.

There were so many changes of pace during the show, with a medley of pop music, songs with a country theme, later a medley of festive songs from films, and with every variation on theme there was a new set and many, many costume changes. I’m not sure I have ever seen a show with so many different costumes before, and it wasn’t just about throwing a new dress on; it was all perfectly accessorised as well. I’m not sure how big the backstage area is but there must be a huge storage area for the costumes alone.

Speaking of scene changes, the set (designed by Chris Floyd and Shannon Topliss) also changed to suit each section of the show, from stained glass windows for the choral music to a desert scene for the country style medley.

It was particularly heart-warming to hear Vincent Hayes explain that the performers take their wonderful talents into care homes where people are living with dementia, and unable to attend a venue, so they can enjoy the music where they are.

This Music Hall experience is a unique way to spend a few hours, in a wonderful friendly atmosphere and I would definitely like to go back here again.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Magic of Christmas runs until 19 December 2025 with evening, lunchtime and matinee performances available. Tickets can be booked via the website here. 

Getting there:

I woke up to blue skies on the day I visited, so I opted to walk from Custom House station, past the Excel and over the river. This was a lovely 30 minute walk – and worth considering if you visit this venue and fancy a bit of fresh air and exercise.  (The closer option for public transport – which I used on the way back when it was dark – is to catch the DLR from Pontoon Dock.)

It seems that many people also join coach parties to Brick Lane Music Hall, and these come from a distance away. After experiencing this venue for the first time, it really is not a surprise that people return year after year.

I was gifted a ticket for this event in exchange for an honest review.