Director Jordan Langford talks new holiday variety show ‘Christmas Wonderland’: “Our motto is ‘Eat, Drink, and Be Merry’”

After last year’s critically acclaimed run, the director returns with an updated version that blends the venue’s long-standing traditions and identity with new additions. Guillermo Nazara chats with the creative about the show’s development and evolution, and why Christmas always comes early to the Brick Lane Hall.

How does it feel to be bringing a show back to Brick Lane Music Hall?

It feels really lovely, actually. I’ve had a ten-year relationship with Brick Lane, so it’s a place that means an enormous amount to me, both professionally and personally. I started there as a performer, became resident choreographer, and eventually moved into my role as Creative Producer, so I’ve had the privilege of seeing the venue from quite a few different perspectives. This is the first time I’ve worked on the Christmas show for a number of years as I job-share the staging of shows with Jack Pallister, as he has focused on this show for the past few years, but it’s a joy to be creating this show for our 2026 festive season. There’s a brilliant team behind the scenes, an incredibly loyal audience and a real sense of tradition, but we also have such an appetite to keep pushing things creatively. I think that’s what makes returning to something but bringing a new energy to it, so exciting.

How did the idea for this show come about?

The Christmas show at Brick Lane is something with a wonderful history, and we’re very lucky to have Zara Kattan, our Artistic Director, who has been involved in every Christmas production throughout the Music Hall’s almost 35-year history. She’s an absolute encyclopaedia of the venue! We usually start with a conversation with Zara, Jack and myself, looking at what audiences have loved in previous years and where we can introduce something new. Our Musical Director, Scott Hayes, is also a huge part of that process. From there, we start thinking about the performers, the musical choices, and the moments that will make this particular Christmas feel special. It’s a real collaboration, and the show gradually takes shape from lots of different ideas.

How has the Christmas show evolved in any way over the years?

I think it’s evolved alongside the audience and the venue itself. Brick Lane has always celebrated music hall entertainment, but I think it’s important that we don’t become too comfortable with simply repeating what has worked before. Audiences change, musical tastes change, and entertainment moves on. We still have those wonderful traditional ingredients: the variety, the comedy, the dancing and the festive singalongs, but we’re always looking at how we can bring a more contemporary energy to the building — that’s the job I have, I guess. I think that’s why the Christmas show continues to work so well. It has a real sense of history and familiarity, but it should never feel like you’ve seen it all before.

Will this year’s production feature any brand new material?

Absolutely! There are plenty of new moments, musical arrangements, and routines this year. We always want to give our regular audiences something they haven’t seen before, while still retaining the familiar ingredients that make it a Brick Lane Christmas. We have a fantastic cast this year, with artists from across Europe and all are wonderfully talented, including Katie Lewis, who brings a brilliant variety and tap background to the production. I always enjoy finding ways to showcase what performers do particularly well, so a lot of the material develops around the people we have in the room. There’s a lovely mixture of new material, familiar festive favourites, and a few surprises along the way!

Apart from afternoon tea / dinner experience, what makes this production stand out from other Christmas variety shows?

I think it’s the atmosphere. I don’t think you can actually describe it without experiencing it in the venue. Brick Lane Music Hall has a very particular personality, and it’s something you feel as soon as you walk through the doors and are greeted by the warm and friendly Front of House team. It’s not a traditional theatre experience where you sit quietly in the dark and watch something happen on stage. You’re part of the evening. There’s music, comedy, dancing, audience interaction, and a wonderful sense of occasion. The vision for the building Vincent Hayes introduces to all of us is that we really need to understand the relationship between the stage and the audience, and that makes every performance feel different and new. We’re also incredibly proud of the venue’s music hall heritage, but we’re not trying to recreate a bygone era. We want to celebrate what music hall can be today, and I think that gives the Christmas show its own identity.

As a director, what particular challenges have you faced both during the show’s first iteration and throughout the years?

I think the biggest challenge is always finding the balance between tradition and moving forward. We have an audience who return year after year, and they rightly have expectations of what a Brick Lane show should feel like, but you also want to surprise them and give them something fresh and creatively exciting. Then there’s the practical side! We have a very short rehearsal period, just five days, so an enormous amount of the creative work has to happen before the cast even arrives! I need to have ideas and motifs, understand the performers and have a clear idea of how everything fits together. I take a lot of inspiration from the cast themselves, so there’s always an element of adapting and discovering things as we go. It’s a bit of a creative sprint, but that’s part of the fun!

Are there any highlights that you would like to flag?

I think the variety of the show is a real highlight this year. I’m really excited about the big ensemble numbers and the ones we have done before are ALL being restaged, so it’s a completely reinvigorated and re-energised show! You get that wonderful combination of music, movement, and festive energy that Brick Lane Music Hall does so well. Katie Lewis is also a brilliant addition to the company, and I think audiences are going to really enjoy what she brings to the stage. Without giving too much away, there are some lovely surprises tucked into the show, too. I always think the best moments are sometimes the ones you don’t see coming, so I’ll leave a little mystery for the busy audiences we have!

Why come see Christmas Wonderland?

Because Christmas should be a real celebration of people, community and joy! I think we all get caught up in the busyness of the season, and sometimes you just need a moment where you can get lost in a winter wonderland, have a lovely meal, enjoy a few drinks, laugh a lot, and be thoroughly entertained. That’s exactly what we’re here to provide to our audiences. Whether you’ve been coming to Brick Lane for thirty five years or you’re walking through the doors for the very first time, we want you to feel part of something special. There’s something quite magical about sharing live entertainment with a room full of people, particularly at Christmas. Our motto is ‘Eat, Drink, and Be Merry’, and I think that’s a pretty good place to start! I’d love everyone to leave with a huge smile on their face and ready for the holidays!

Production and venue pictures credit to Lucy Hayes.

Christmas Wonderland plays at London’s Brick Lane Hall from 19 November to 19 December. Tickets are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara