Sherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of Christmas Resource Pack
1.Introduction & Synopsis
2.Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice Background
3.Humphrey Ker & David Reed
4.Arthur Conan Doyle
5.Cast and Creatives
6.Behind the Scenes
7.Sherlock Holmes Themes
8.Interview with the Writers
9.Warm Up Games
10.Activities
It’sChristmasinVictorianLondonbutintheWestEnd–where dreamscometrueandnothingbadeverhappens–aflurryof performersaresuddenlydyingmid-scene.ScotlandYardrules outfoulplay…untiltheworld’sgreatestconsultingdetective, SherlockHolmes,discoversanintriguinglinktoTheTwelveDays ofChristmas...Thegameisafoot!
RacingagainsttheclocktosaveFrenchHens,findGoldRings andrescueMotherGoose,Sherlockplungeshimselfintomortal danger. Willthisreallybethelaststandforourhero,orwillhis trustysidekickDrWatsonandrivalhotshotdetectiveAthena FavershamensurehelivestoconsumeanotherChristmas Pudding…?
Auniquetheatricalspectaclewheremurdermystery,festive cheerandmusicaltheatreiscombined. Thankyouforviewingthiseducationpack.Thisresourcewill helptobring221BBakerStreetintoyourclassroom.Createyour ownmysteries,findoutwhothedetectivesareandhavefun devisingyourownscenes.Wewilluncoversomethemesandthe processofmakingandcreatingaperformancebasedonthe worldcreatedbyArthur Conan Doyle.
Andrew Lloyd WebberandTim Rice’scollaborationon Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmasbringstogether theirsignatureblendoftheatricalflair,memorablemusic,andwitty storytelling.Reunitingoneofmusicaltheatre’smosticoniccreative partnerships,theprojectplayfullyfusesthesharpintellectof Arthur Conan Doyle’sfamousdetectivewiththefestivecharmof theclassicholidayshow.
Andrew Lloyd Webber(bornMarch22,1948,inLondon)isoneof themostsuccessfulandinfluentialcomposersinmodernmusical theatre.Overacareerspanningmorethanfivedecades,hehas writtensomeoftheworld’smostbelovedandlong-running musicals,includingThePhantomoftheOpera,Cats,Starlight Express,andSchoolofRock. Knownforhismemorablemelodiesandabilitytoblendclassical, rock,andpopinfluences,Lloyd Webber’sworkhastransformedthe landscapeofmusicaltheatre.Hisproductionshaveearned numerousawards,includingmultipleTony,Olivier,andGrammy Awards,aswellasanAcademyAwardforBestOriginalSong.
Tim Rice (bornNovember10,1944,inAmersham, Buckinghamshire)isacelebratedlyricistandwriter,bestknownfor hiscollaborationswithcomposerAndrew Lloyd Webberonsome ofthemosticonicmusicalsintheatrehistory,includingJesusChrist Superstar,Evita,andJosephandtheAmazingTechnicolor Dreamcoat. Amasterofcombininghumour,intelligence,andemotioninhis lyrics,heremainsoneofthemostinfluentialfiguresinmodern musicaltheatreandfilmsong-writing.
ThePennyDreadfulsareaBritishsketchcomedytroupe,whose membersareHumphrey Ker, David Reed(thewritersof Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas)andThom Tuck. Humphrey KerisanEmmyandEdinburghComedyAward-winning writer,actorandfootballclubdirector.Heisknownforhisroleson NBC’sAmericanAuto,FX’sIt’sAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia, HBO’sCurbYourEnthusiasmandBBC1’sDaddyIssues,alongside appearancesonHaveIGotNewsForYou,8OutOf10Catsand WelcomeToWrexham.
AsawriterhehasworkedforthreeseasonsonAppleTVHit MythicQuest,writtentheupcomingAmazonPrimeFeatureFilm IfIWereYouandthestageandfeaturefilmversionsofDymock Watson:NaziSmasher. David Reed isaplaywright,actorandcomedian.
Radiocreditsinclude:MacbethRebothered,TheOdyssey,Curseof TheBeagle,LeCarréOnSpying,DonQuixote,Hadrian’sBeard, RichardIIIRebotheredandSeverus(Co-writtenwithPaterson Joseph).HeisthecreatorofAudibleOriginalseriesZeroesand BBC3animatedseriesTheRealHistoryofSex.
Televisioncreditsinclude:DaddyIssues,It’sKevin&TheWrong Door.Hisdebuttheatricalproduction,GuyFawkes,wasstagedby YorkTheatreRoyalin2022.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle(bornMay22,1859,inEdinburgh) wasadoctorandwriterbestknownforcreatingthe legendarydetectiveSherlockHolmes.Holmesfirst appearedin1887inAStudyinScarlet,andConan Doyle wentontowritefifty-sixshortstoriesandfournovels aboutHolmesandhisloyalfriendDr.Watson.
Conan Doyle didn’tjuststicktomysteries-healsowrote excitingfantasyandscience-fictionadventuresfeaturing ProfessorChallenger,aswellasfunnystoriesaboutabold NapoleonicsoldiernamedBrigadierGerard.Heactually beganwritingwhilehewasstillastudent,andhisfirst publishedstory,TheMysteryofSasassaValley,cameout in1879.
WhilestudyingmedicineattheUniversityofEdinburgh, Conan DoylemetDr. Joseph Bell,aforensicexpertknown forhisincredibleskillatnoticingsmalldetailsandmaking cleverdeductions.Bell’sabilities,alongwithotherpeople Conan Doyle met,helpedtoinspirethebrilliant, sharp-eyeddetectivewenowknowasSherlockHolmes.
Sharethesesneakpeekvideoswithyourclasstolearnmore aboutourChristmasproduction.You’llgainaninsightintotothe rehearsalroomandbehindthescenesglimpsesoftheshow.
SherlockHolmescelebratesthetriumphofreasonoverchaos throughtheuseofintelligenceandlogic.Sherlock’suseof deductionandforensicscienceastoolstodiscovertruthreflects VictorianBritain’sfaithinscienceandprogress.
SherlockHolmesexploresthelinebetweenwhatisrightand whatiswrongaswellasthemoralcomplexitiesofcrime. Sherlock’smethodsofstoppingcrimescansometimescallthe lawitselfintoquestionandaskquestionsaboutethics, punishmentandmoralresponsibility.
Holmes’famousline“yousee,butyoudonotobserve”highlights thedifferencebetweenperceptionandreality.SherlockHolmes seestheworldmoreclearlythanmanyofthepeoplearoundhim duetohispowersofdeductionandheisquicktocriticisepeople –usuallyhispartnerDr.Watson–forfailingtolookbeyondthe surfacetowhatisactuallyreal.
SherlockHolmesisoftendescribedasanoutsiderwhoisboth admiredbutalienatedduetohiseccentricbehaviourand, sometimesrogue,methods.Thishighlightstheideaofthegenius asasolitaryfigurewhoseeswhatotherscannot.
ThefriendshipsharedbetweenSherlockHolmesand Dr.Watsonisoneofthemostfamousinliteraryhistory.Their bondprovidesemotionaldepthtothestoriesandHolmes’ brillianceisbalancedoutwithWatson’swarmth,empathyand moralcompass.Theirfriendshiphumanisestheoftencoldand starkworldofdetectives.
Setinlate19thCenturyLondon,Sherlock’sadventuresoften exploresocialhierarchiesandthedividesbetweenrichandpoor inanincreasinglyindustrialisedsociety.Theideaof “respectability”isoftencalledintoquestion,withthosein privilegedpositionsinsocietyoftenexploitingthosewithlower socialstatus.
Disguise,deceit,andsecretidentitiesarecommonmotifs. Holmes’sworkinvolvesunmaskinghiddenmotivesand revealingthetruthbeneathappearances—ametaphorfor uncoveringtheconcealedrealitiesofhumannatureandsociety.
By Diane Parkes
Birminghamaudiencescanlookforwardtoafestivespectaclefullof surpriseswhichwillkeepthemguessingtotheendwiththeworld premiereofSherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of Christmas, promiseitswriters.
Humphrey Ker andDavid Reed havenotonlywrittentheshow, whichopensatBirminghamRepon14November,butalsotakethe leadrolesastheever-populardetectivesHolmesandDrWatson. Andtheyhavecreatedatotallynewadventureforthesupersleuths whichseesthemcalledintothetheatrelandofLondon’sWestEnd afteramysteriouskillingspreeofitsstars.
HumphreyandDavid admittoafascinationwithoneoftheworld’s mostfamousdetectives.
“DaveandIfirstmetinEdinburghinabout2001andwere immediatelydrawntoeachotherbecauseofasharedloveofgothic, ofSherlockHolmesandabitofDickensianfun,”saysEmmyand EdinburghComedyAward-winningwriterHumphrey.
“WeendedupperformingasketchteamtogethercalledThePenny Dreadfulsforaboutfiveyearswhichwasalldrivenbymelodrama. Thisshowfeelslikeareturntoourroots-butmuchfancierbecause wemadeourpropsoutofcardboardandnowanincrediblyskilled teamareworkingontheshow.
“Thisshowisverysilly,it’sveryjoyful,it’spackedtothegillswith unabashedChristmascheer–therearedancingChristmaspuddings, therearesmallVictorianurchins,thereareallthethingswethinkof whenwethinkofChristmas.”
AnditbringstothestageArthur Conan Doyle’sclassicprivateeye.
“SherlockHolmesisreallythemodelforeverygreatdetectivesince,” Humphrey continues.“Whetherit’sBroadchurchorPoirotorJack FrostinATouchofFrost,it’sthenotionofsomeonewhoisalmost superhumanfindingthetruth.
“Andthat’sveryreassuring.Weliveinaworldwherejusticeisn’t alwaysservedbutwhenwegoonthesejourneyswithgreat detectives,thegoodiestriumphandthebaddiesgettheirjust desserts.”
David believesit’stheunlikelypartnershipofHolmesandWatson whichdrawsusin.
“Atthecentreofitallyou’vegotthislovelydoubleact,”hesays.“I thinkpartofthelongevityofthecharactersisthatyou’vegotWatson alongsideHolmesateverystepandheistheaudience’swayin.We areseeingSherlockthroughWatson’seyes.
“There’satimelessqualitytoHolmes’character.It’sthatimpervious spiritofinvestigationbutalsobeingcantankerousattimesandin somewaysdeeplylimited.Ilovetheideathathehasthis encyclopaedicmindinthingslikechemistrybutthenthereare subjectshejusthasabsolutelynointerestin.”
Fortheirnewshow,theduoweredeterminedtotakethespiritof Conan Doyle’stalesbutwriteanadventurewhichwouldkeeppeople guessing.
“Wewantedtocreateanentirelynewmysterysothateventhemost hardcorefansofSherlockHolmeswouldn’tknowwhatwascoming,” saysDavid. “Therearelotsofreferencespeoplewillrecogniseand hopefullywe’vedoneaprettyfaithfulinterpretationofthem–the pipe,theviolin,themagnifyingglass,DrWatson’srevolveronapiece ofstring.
“WealsowantedittohaveonefootfirmlyinthetraditionofaBritish Christmasshowsoit’sgotplentyofingredientsofpantomimeorA ChristmasCaroloranyofthesewonderfullyrichChristmasshows thatpeoplelovetogoandseearoundthistimeofyear.”Andpartof thesefestiveroutinesisthemurdermystery.
“Forme,intheChristmastraditionthere’salwaysaPeter Ustinov PoirotonTVandwelovethesortofclassichighproductionAgatha Christie orConan Doyleadventures–that’swhatwearetryingto capturethespiritof,”Humphrey explains.
“MywifeisAmericanandshewasdelightedtodiscoverthatnoUK Christmasiscompletewithoutsomeonebeinghitovertheheadwith aleadpipe–aslongasit’sontelly!”
Theproductionfeaturesnewsongsbymusicaltheatrelegends Tim RiceandAndrew Lloyd Webber,bringinganaddeddynamictothe show.
“Ourtemplateforitwasthepantomimewhereyouhaveaboutfiveor sixnumberssothatcertainscenesarerampeduporelevatedabove thedialogue,”saysDavid.“Soyou’vesuddenlygotthisswellof positivityorthisswellofevilfromthevillainandwe’vedoneverymuch thesamethingwiththis.
“Thesongsarebringingabitofvarietyandabitofpunchandthey bringatouchofclass,theyelevateit.Allthesongsaresocatchy we ’vehadthemstuckinourheadsformonthsnow.Theyare fantasticandit’sanincredibleprivilegetohavethesesongs.”
ABirminghamRepproduction,theduoaredelightedtobe premieringSherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of Christmasatthe historictheatre.
“Theprinciplewesettledonwaslet’sgosomewherethattheshowis goingtobeappreciated,it’sgoingtobeaneventinsomeways. Birminghamwastopofourlistandtheyreadthescriptandlovedit,” Humphrey says. “Andthatgotmoreexcitingwhenwerealisedthe manyconnectionsbetweenSherlockHolmesandBirmingham. Arthur Conan Doyledidsomeofhismedicaltraininghere,you’ve gotBaskervilleHousenextdoorandyou’vegotSherlockStreet downthere.”
David saystheshowpayshomagenotjusttoVictorianmelodrama butalsototheworldofthestage.“It'salovestorytotheatre becauseit’ssetintheWestEndatChristmastimesoHolmesand Watsoncirclearoundeverykindofshowthatyoucouldpossibly wanttosee.TheyinteractwithoperasingersandShakespearian actorsandpantomimecharacters,there’sapantomimehorsethat theytalktoatonepoint. “IthinkSherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of ChristmashasabitofeverythingyoumightwantinaChristmas show.
“Thereisarollickinglygoodplot,thrillsandspills,thereisanactual whodunnitthatwillkeepyouguessingandchattingwithyourfriends intheintervalandattheendofthedaythere’sbucketloadsof laughs.Ourprimarygoalhasbeentosendpeopleawaytickledand happy.”
Wethoughtitwouldbehelpfultolistsomeactivitiesandwarm-ups thatcouldbeginyourlearningsurroundingSherlockHolmes.These arekeyinencouragingteamwork,observationalskillsandstaying in-role–allkeyskillsinbecomingadetective!
Beginstandingorsittinginacircle.Asmallstone(diamond)is passedaroundthecircle.Adetectiveispickedtositinthemiddleof thecircleandtheyareencouragedtousetheirpowersof observationtospotwhohasthediamond.
Thedetectiveispickedandsentoutoftheroomwhilstthediamond isgiventosomeoneinthecircle.Everyoneelsewillpretendtopass ofreceiveit,makingitdifficulttoknowwheretheobjectis.The detectiveneedstoguesswhohastheobject.
Youcouldevenaddmultiplediamondsforaddedconfusionorlower theamountofguessesthedetectiveisgiven.
Quickdecision-makingandfocusisneededforthisactivity. Setthegameupbynarratingwhathashappened.Acrimehasbeen committedandthecriminalisamongstthecircle.
Roleswillbeassignedtothechildrenbytappingtheirshoulder. SherlockHolmeswilltrytoidentifythecriminal. Moriartyisthecriminalandwilltrytoavoidcapture. WatsoncantryandaidSherlock.
Theinnocenttownspeoplewillhavetoquestionandvote.
Ifit’sasmallergroup,youcouldhaveoneSherlockandonecriminal. Moretownspeoplecouldbeaddedtoalargergroup.
Theteacher(narrator)willmakesureeveryone’seyesareclosed. Theywillthensay: ‘Moriarty–openyoureyesandchooseonepersontoeliminate.’ Moriartycloseseyes.
‘Sherlock-openyoureyes.Whodoyoususpect?’
Sherlockclosestheireyesandthenarratorannouncestheplayer thathasbeeneliminated.Usingcluesandreasoning,therestofthe groupvoteonwhotoarrest.IfMoriartyiscaught,Sherlockwins.
Quotesareabrilliantstimulusinordertostartthedevisingprocess inmakingyourownperformance.
Possiblequotesinclude:
‘Thegameisafoot.’
‘Yousee,butyoudonotobserve.’
‘Educationneverends.Itisaseriesoflessonswiththegreatest forthelast.’
‘Whentheimpossiblehasbeeneliminated,allthatremains,no matterhowimprobable,ispossible.’
Insmallergroups,childrencanworkoncreatingwhatthequote mightlooklikeasanimageoramoment.Forexample;‘thegameis afoot’couldinvolverunning,searchingandhunting.
Childrencanthenunfreezeandbringtheimagetolife.Dialoguecan beaddedaswellasreactingtoothermovements.Encouragetheuse ofvoiceandpace.
Thisisafunwarm-uptostepintotheworldofSherlockHolmesand toexploreposture,mannersandstatus.
ExplorepostureandpoisethroughVictoriancitizens.
VictorianCitizens
Standtall.Shouldersback.Chinslightlyraised.Longcoats.Tight corsets.Elegance.
LowerClass: Streetsweepersormarketworkers.
OtherrolesduringVictoriantimestoexplorecouldbe:
Aristocrats,Governess,Doctors
Calloutthesecharactersandencourageyourclasstoexploreeye contact,posture,paceandgesturesforeachofthese.
Insmallergroups,childrenaretoassignVictorianrolesouttotheir group,sothateachpersonisadifferentcharacter.Thegroupscan improviseashortsceneshowingallofthesecharactersinthesame room.
MaybetheyhaveallbeeninvitedtoSherlockHolme’sstudyfortea oraretheyallvictimsinhismostrecentcase?
Needsomeideasforaworkshopwithyourclassoralessonplanto getyoustarted?Here’ssomeexcitingplanstoassistyouinthe classroom.
Activity 1 – 12 Days of Christmas
Resources:
Paper/whiteboard(ifstayinginagroup)
Speakertoplayasong
12giftsofChristmasworksheet
Suitableforages8+
Description:
ThegroupwillexploreandadaptthetraditionalChristmascarol“The 12DaysofChristmas”tobecomemoremodernandhumorous.This activityaimstohelpparticipantsdeveloptheircreativewritingand oracy. Firststartbyplayingthe“The12DaysofChristmas”tothegroup. Followingthisholdabriefdiscussionexploringthefollowing questions: Whatisthesongabout? Whatkindofgiftsaregiven? Whymightthegiftssoundfunnyorold-fashionedtoday? Ifthissongwaswrittentodaywhatgiftsmightbegiven?
Askthegrouptocompletetheworksheetwith12giftsthatmaybe givenatChristmas.Thenontablesorreplacethegiftsintheoriginal songwiththeirsuggestions.Thiscanbedoneinsmallergroupsoras acollective.
Time:1hr–1hr30
Theme:Mystery,Character,andEnsembleCreation LearningObjectives
•Todevelopcollaborationandensembleskillsthroughgroup-based activities.
•Toexplorecharactercreationusingphysicalityandimagination.
•Tobuildnarrativestructurethroughimprovisationanddevising.
•Toenhancecreativityandproblem-solvingthroughmysterythemedstorytelling.
10 mins | Welcome, Introductions, and Check-in
Participantsarriveandaregreetedinalively,themedenvironment. Askthegrouptosaytheirname,favouritecostume,orfavourite mysterystory/character. Shortphysicalorvocalwarm-uptoenergisethegroupe.g.Splator similar.
10 mins | Warm-Up: “Night at the Museum”
Facilitatorleadsaquickimaginativeexercise:participantsbring museumexhibitstolife.
Encourageexaggeratedphysicalityandtransformation.Transition smoothlyintothenextgroupingactivity.
Calloutpromptstoformdifferent-sizedgroupswithcreative challengese.g.“Getintogroupsof2andbesomethingthatstarts withtheletterT.”/“Getintogroupsof6andbesomethingyou’d findinakitchen.”
Endwithparticipantsforminggroupsoffive,whichwillremainfor themaintask.
15 mins| Mystery Challenge: “The Great Sherlock Holmes” Introducetheidea:SherlockHolmesneedshelpsolvingnew mysteries.
Eachgroupreceivesacodedclue(imageofSherlockwithcipher text).Oncecracked,thecoderevealstheircasetitle: TheCaseoftheStolenNecklace
TheCaseoftheMysteriousBox
TheCaseoftheGhostlyKey.
Eachgroupisgivenacorrespondingproprelatedtotheirmystery.
15 mins | Character Creation and Freezeframes
Eachgroupreceivescharactercards(TheDetective,TheVictim,The Suspect,TheWitness,TheReporter).
Participantsembodytheirrolesphysicallyandvocally.Groups createafreezeframethatincludesallcharactersandtheprop.The audienceobservesandguesseswhoiswho;facilitatorinvitesideas aboutwhatmightbehappening.
Groupsdeveloptheirfreezeframeintoashort,devisedscene.
Encourageclearbeginnings,characterinteractions,andacliffhangerending.Otherdevisescanbeexploredinthescenessuchas plottwists,breakingthefourthwalletc.
Performancessharedwiththewholegroup.
Circlediscussion:one-wordreflectiondescribingtheirworkshop. Facilitatorthanksparticipantsandhighlightscreativityand teamworkshown.
Resources Required
•Printedcodesheets(withSherlockimage)
•Props:necklace,smallbox,key
•Charactercards(Detective,Victim,Suspect,Witness,Reporter)
•Spaceformovementandgroupwork
Facilitator Notes
•Keeptransitionsbrisktomaintainenergyandfocus.
•Encouragecreativerisk-takingandsupportivegroupdynamics.
•Usequestioningtohelpgroupsexpandtheirstoryideas(“What mighthappennext?”“Howdoesyourcharacterfeel?”).
•Adjusttimingasneededdependingongroupsizeandengagement levels.
Time:50Minutes
Age Group:8+
Theme:Character,in-roleworkandtheartofdeduction.
Learning Objectives
•Todevelopin-roleworkandcommitmenttoplayingvarious characters.
•Tounderstandcertainmotivationsofacharacter.
•Buildimprovisationandquick-thinkingthroughhot-seating.
Workshop Outline
Tobuildonthemysteriescreatedinthedevisingworkshop, studentscanbegintothinkofthesuspectsthatmayfeaturein theirperformances.
Theclasswillworktogethertouncoverthetruthofthemysteryby interviewingthesuspects.
Create the Suspect- 15 Minutes
Eachstudentcaninventacharacterthatwillbecomeasuspect. Theycaninclude:
Name Age
Occupation
Personalitytraits
Possiblemotive-revenge-money-misunderstanding
Asecret
Toadaptthisforayoungeragegroup,thesuspectscouldalreadybe decidedandprintedoutoncards.Thechildrencouldthenrandomly selectacard.Forexample;asecurityguard,acleaneroranhistorian.
Rehearse the Interview- 10 Minutes
Inordertoprepthemfortheirinterviewin-role,splittheclassinto smallgroupswheretheycanhaveagoatansweringthequestions incharacter.
Questions:
Howdoyouknowthevictim?
Whatwereyoudoingatthetimeoftheincident?
Whatdoyouthinkoftheothersuspects?
Youseemnervous-areyouhidingsomething?
Isthereanyonewhocanconfirmyouralibi?
Improvisedconversationsareencouragedhereandmakesurethe childrenstayin-roleandcreatetheirownalibi.
The Interview Room- 15 Minutes
Chairscanbearrangedasifthesuspectsarenowreadytobe interviewed.Thesuspectcansit‘inthehotseat’whilsttherestof theclasscanbein-roleasDetectivesorPressReporters. Encouragethesuspecttostayincharacter,usetheirbackstorythat theycreatedintheirsmallgroupsandreacttruthfully.Theteacher canpassonthequestioningpowertoa‘ChiefInspector’oftheir choice,whocanthenleadontheinvestigation.
Whichcharactersdidyoubelievethemost?
Resources Required
Charactersuspectcards
Questioncards
Paper
Pens
Propsforsuspectsifrequired-i.e.amagnifyingglassforaDetective
Facilitator Notes
Beginthesessionwithintrigueandenergy.Youcouldpickamystery andrecapitusingmusic,lightsorimagestoo!
Introducingyourselfin-rolewillhelpthechildrenwithexpectations andcommitmenttotheirsuspectcreation.
Preparecharacterquestioncardsifstudentsneedstructure.
Thank you for viewing this resource and we hope it will inspire creativity in your classroom.
Feel free to adapt these activities to other topics too.
