Brick Lane Music Hall - Where Community, Comedy and Christmas Collide

Now a firm fixture in London’s festive calendar, Brick Lane Music Hall has spent more than three decades bringing laughter, song, and sparkle to the season. Housed in a converted church in Silvertown, the award-winning venue blends comedy, cabaret, and community spirit in true music hall fashion - complete with hearty food and plenty of audience participation. This year’s production, The Magic of Christmas (which opens on 19th November), promises a joyful mix of Christmas songs, festive film favourites and a few surprises along the way. Founder and host Vincent Hayes MBE tells us why the simple combination of “eat, drink, and be merry” still captures the hearts of audiences today.

The Magic of Christmas brings together everything from traditional carols to festive film soundtracks and even a country Christmas medley. How do you choose the musical mix for each year’s show?

We like to bring something new every year. We aim to bring an element of fun and surprise 

alongside the more traditional classics. Our regulars know to expect the unexpected!

The Christmas productions at Brick Lane Music Hall are as much about gathering around the table as they are about gathering around the stage. Why is that combination so central to what you do?

Music hall in my mind has always been about the combination of the three elements - eat, drink, and be merry. It’s about creating an atmosphere where people feel part of a community, and part of the show as a result - that can only be done if people are relaxed and well-fed. 

After more than 30 years of festive productions, what do you hope audiences, whether they’re first-timers or long-time fans, take away from the 2025 show?

Most people come to experience the whole atmosphere of Brick Lane Music Hall. From the building itself which is full of nostalgia, to the friendliness of the staff, the lovely food, which is all freshly prepared on the premises, the general cheeriness of the venue makes it a lovely place to be. The show and the festive atmosphere should certainly get everyone into the Christmas spirit.

Brick Lane Music Hall is the UK’s only permanent home of music hall entertainment. Why do you think this tradition still resonates with audiences today?

I think it still resonates today because people love a sense of community, of belonging, of familiarity. Music hall is unique in the opportunity it gives for participation. Everyone watching the show becomes one. Laughter has always been the best medicine and always will be! Even if people don't know what to  expect from the show, we hope they will leave feeling lighter.

You were awarded an MBE for your services to British Music Hall. What did that recognition mean to you personally?

I was born in Galway, and moved over to London with my family as a child. As a result, I felt Irish in England and English in Ireland. As an immigrant to this country, the award gave me, for the first time, a real sense of belonging, and a recognition that I’d been accepted. It gave me a feeling that this was my home and that I’d been able to positively contribute to a country that had given so many opportunities to my family that we wouldn’t have had in Ireland.

How would you sum up The Magic of Christmas in just three words?

Fun, cheerful, festive.

The Magic of Christmas is at Brick Lane Music Hall from 19^th November to 19^th December this year. For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.bricklanemusichall.co.uk/shows/the-magic-of-christmas/