Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Brick Lane Music Hall’s Jordan Langford on Bringing ‘Christmas Wonderland’ to Life

With almost 35 years of festive entertainment behind it, Brick Lane Music Hall knows a thing or two about putting on a Christmas show. But for Creative Producer Jordan Langford, the challenge is always finding new ways to surprise and delight audiences while preserving the warmth, humour and tradition that make the venue so special. Ahead of this year's Christmas Wonderland, we caught up with Jordan to talk about bringing music hall to a new generation, creating a spectacular festive production with just four days of rehearsals, and why he hopes audiences leave feeling as though they've been “dipped in mulled wine and rolled around in tinsel.”

You directed last year's The Magic of Christmas, which received some fantastic reviews. When you're returning to create another Christmas production, how do you build on that success while making sure audiences experience something completely new?

We did receive some brilliant press for last year’s show. However, that’s where the work began for us, I guess! We’ve been doing a Christmas show at Brick Lane Music Hall for many years, but last year was the first time we opened our doors to reviewers and the industry in that way. It was nerve-wracking and also very exciting. We have a huge number of loyal customers at the Music Hall, so the work has always felt like a success, but having the industry come into our environment and love it was a lovely bit of validation for the work we’ve been doing. When it came to approaching this year, we wanted to retain the festive fun, energy and creativity we always aim for, but give audiences even more. We have a truly phenomenal cast, made up of artists from across Europe! We also have the fantastic Katie Lewis joining us, a variety and tap act we’ve worked with before, who is going to be brilliant, alongside the familiar favourites who keep Brick Lane audiences coming back year after year. Creatively, I want audiences to leave feeling like they’ve been dipped in mulled wine, rolled around in tinsel and had a ride on Santa’s sleigh. If we get that, I’m happy!

Music hall is such an important part of Britain's entertainment history, but it's not necessarily something younger generations are familiar with. What do you think modern audiences would find most surprising about a night at Brick Lane Music Hall?

I think some of my favourite reactions to our shows come from younger audience members. They get fully invested in the work we do, often very quickly, and I think that says a lot about the magic of Brick Lane Music Hall. We’ve worked hard to make sure music hall grows with the times and embraces new trends, rather than becoming something that belongs only in the history books. We had Zara Larsson’s ‘Lush Life’ pulsating through our speakers in last year’s pantomime! I think that might surprise people who expect a night at the Music Hall to be a purely nostalgic experience. We’re proud of our history, of course, but we’re not a museum. Music hall is a living, breathing art form, and keeping it relevant is how we ensure new generations discover it and keep coming back. To us, music hall is an energetic fusion of music, dancing, comedy and sketches, with a little bit of the unexpected thrown in. Above all, it’s about community. It’s an experience where audiences aren’t just watching a show, they’re part of the atmosphere and the performance. And I think that’s something that can surprise and delight people of any age.

When you're creating a show like Christmas Wonderland, where do you begin? Is there a particular song, comedy routine or moment that sparks the whole production, or does the show gradually take shape as you work with the cast?

We’re incredibly lucky that our Artistic Director, Zara Kattan, has worked on all our Christmas shows throughout the Music Hall’s almost 35-year history! She’s essentially an encyclopaedia of Brick Lane and knows what has worked, what audiences love and what makes a Christmas show here so special. We start with a conversation with Zara, and then Zara, Jack Pallister and I work to develop something that builds on the work we’ve done before while bringing in new ideas, surprises and exciting material. Our Musical Director, Scott Hayes, is also a huge part of that process, helping shape the musical choices and the overall feel of the show. When it comes to staging, I personally take a lot of inspiration from the cast themselves. I look at their individual skills, strengths and personalities, and we build the show around them so that it feels lived-in and properly embodied, rather than simply putting routines together. The only catch? We have four days of rehearsals, so it has to come together very quickly! There’s a lot of planning beforehand, a lot of collaboration in the room and a little music hall magic to make it all happen.

How did you first become involved with Brick Lane Music Hall, and what is it about the venue that has kept you coming back?

I’ve had a ten-year relationship with Brick Lane Music Hall, so it’s become my London home in many ways. No matter what other projects I’ve worked on, I always seem to find my way back to Brick Lane, and I’ve always maintained that it’s my favourite place to work. I started there as a performer and quickly became the resident choreographer (after asking for it!) eventually moving into my role as Creative Producer. It feels like a really lovely trajectory, having grown with the venue and been able to contribute in increasingly different ways. The main I keep coming back, though, is the community. The main lessons I have learnt in life and theatre have been from Vincent Hayes - our CEO, and the team there are genuinely special. I’ve made some of my best friends through Brick Lane, and there’s a real sense of belonging that I don’t think you can manufacture. It’s a place with so much heart, and I feel incredibly lucky to be part of it. And I’m getting married there in May! So I think it’s safe to say my commitment to the venue goes well beyond my professional life. I clearly like the place!

With so much entertainment available at the touch of a button, what do you think live variety shows offer audiences that they simply can't experience anywhere else?

Connection. Real, immediate, honest connection, in a room full of people sharing the same moment. You can stream a performance, but you can’t replicate the electricity of a live audience, the unpredictability of a performer (such as Vincent Hayes…) or the feeling that anything could happen. That’s the magic of live variety. No two shows are ever quite the same, and you’re all in it together. You simply can’t get that at the touch of a button.

Is there such a thing as a Christmas song you've heard too many times, or do you still find yourself getting swept up in the festive spirit after months of rehearsals?

I’m obsessed with Christmas music!! The minute I can get away with putting it on I do! I’m not sure there’s such a thing as hearing a Christmas song too many times, although I’m sure my partner might disagree by December. I put my Christmas decorations up at home in early November, mainly for logistical reasons - my partner goes away to rehearse pantomime, and then I head off to rehearse my pantomime once Christmas Wonderland opens. So I have to get organised early, promise! My favourite Christmas song has to be Fairytale of New York. You can’t beat it, can you? That perfect mix of melancholy and utter joy. It’s messy and somehow it still makes you want to raise a glass and celebrate. That to me, is Christmas!

Finally, if someone has never visited Brick Lane Music Hall before and is considering Christmas Wonderland as their first experience, what would you want them to feel as they leave the venue at the end of the night?

I want them to leave with a huge smile on their face! Honestly, I want them to feel part of something special. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, Brick Lane Music Hall is about bringing people together, having a proper laugh and celebrating the magic of live entertainment - our motto is ‘Eat, Drink and Be Merry’, so if that is the audiences experience, We’ve done our job!

Christmas Wonderland opens at Brick Lane Music Hall on 19th November 2026. Three-course afternoon teas, festive lunches or Christmas dinners are included in the ticket price. For tickets and more information, visit: https://bricklanemusichall.co.uk/whats-on/christmas-wonderland/