Review: A Fairytale for Christmas on Tour - Where Christmas Cheer and Celtic Magic Meet

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I felt the Christmas Magic in the air as I sat on the bus from London Victoria to the Dominion Theatre, admiring the Christmas lights and animatronic window displays. I and my fellow theatre goers seemed in the festive mood even before the show began.

I had never been to the Dominion before, and it’s hard not to be impressed. Spacious and grand, it felt big enough to host a Christmas party in the lobby alone. I have to mention that the staff were exceptional, genuinely friendly and accommodating, especially those at the coffee bar near the entrance, who served at full speed without losing any Christmas cheer. Once inside and seated in the stalls, I could view the sprinkling of sequins, glitter and Christmas jumpers. There were families, groups of friends and couples, all seemingly ready for a festive experience. And the show delivered that in spades.

Photo credit Prestige Productions

The cast of A Fairytale for Christmas led the high spirits from the first moment, complete with an on-stage bar, ( I am assuming the pints of Guinness were fake…) Audience participation kicked in almost immediately. The choreography showed the unmistakable influence of Riverdance and Michael Flatley, although at times the sheer volume of movement on stage felt a little overwhelming and risked overshadowing the gentler, more traditional elements.

Highlights included a beautifully moving O Holy Night, a haunting Danny Boy that brought a moment of reflective stillness, and a rousing Irish Rover. Even I sang along. I particularly enjoyed the blend of vocals in Silent Night, which created a rich, warm harmony and felt deeply intimate amid the exuberance of the show.

And I’m still undecided about the inclusion of Feed the World (Do They Know It’s Christmas?). It is a Christmas song many of us grew up with, but the lyrics felt outdated in current times. That said, the cast delivered it with commitment, and its message of hope and generosity still resonated with the audience, even if the song sits uneasily alongside the more raucous, traditional numbers.

You cannot question the talent on stage. By the end, I chose to believe the cast were genuinely a bunch of mates sharing Christmas with us and I refuse to let that illusion be shattered. If it’s your cup of tea (or pint of Guinness, I should say), its an excellent Christmassy night out for all the family.

Tour: Friday 31st October–Monday 22nd December2025

Running Time: 130 mins

Guidance: Suitable for all ages

Websitehttps://afairytaleforchristmas.com/

Band Members / Musicians

Shane Morgan

Oliver Cave

Peet Jackson

Molly Farmer

Caitlin Forbes

Dancers

Georgia Amery

Rachel Adele Bolsworth

Katie Tone

Erin Dallas

Isabelle Hazeldine

Hannah Rose Pendlebury