Review: The Great Christmas Feast — A Christmas Carol at The Lost Estate

Sarah
21 minutes ago
3 min read

★★★½

There’s something undeniably magical about stepping off a quiet West Kensington street and walking straight into Victorian London. Behind an unassuming door, The Lost Estate have conjured an entire Dickensian world — not just a set, but an environment that envelops you from the moment you arrive. It’s their ambition each year to build a “portal” rather than a performance, and The Great Christmas Feast certainly strives to fulfil that promise.

We were given a welcome note from co-founder and creative producer Eddy Hackett, introducing the history of the show and setting the tone for what’s to come. In his own words:

“Thank you so much for joining us as we step into Victorian London on Christmas Eve, 1843… What we have worked to create is something we believe is genuinely unique… inviting guests to live inside the experience rather than watch it from the outside.”

The atmosphere they create is richly detailed. Gaslit tones, books everywhere, and lush fabrics transport you straight into Dickens’ world. The maître d’ appears in full Victorian attire, welcoming guests with theatrical charm, while the waiting staff remain in contemporary black service clothing, giving the night a blend of period style and practical modern hospitality.

The Performance

Man standing with outstretched arm surrounded by musicians in Victorian dress — The storytelling underway. Photo credit: Hanson Leatherby

The heart of the evening is a one-man retelling of A Christmas Carol, performed on our night by David Alwyn, who takes on Dickens, Scrooge, Marley, Tiny Tim, the ghosts of Christmas, and every soul in between. He is extraordinary: energetic, charming, often very funny, and capable of switching emotional temperature in a heartbeat. He covers the sizeable space beautifully and brings a real sense of playfulness to the ghostly tale.

That said, I couldn’t help feeling that the production might benefit from two actors — one to play Dickens and Scrooge, and another to embody the rest of the story’s colourful cast. (Although a few audience members did gamely give their best with a portion of the script each). Given the scale and richness of the world, a duo might deepen the emotional resonance, especially for audience members seated at angles where some of the subtleties are harder to catch.

As it stands, though, Alwyn’s performance is full of heart and generosity, and he single-handedly carries the storytelling with admirable stamina.

Live Music & Ambience

Live music threads through the evening and is one of the production’s strongest assets. At our performance the musicians were:

Guy Button (“Turveydrop”) – violin
Charlotte Kaslin (“Copperfield”) – cello
Stan Talman (“Pumblechook”) – percussion

Their playing creates an emotional scaffold for the show — sometimes haunting, sometimes playful, always attentive to the text and the interactions with David. The music adds a cinematic sweep that makes the world feel even more alive.

Food & Drink

The three-course Victorian-inspired feast is created by Menu Designer & Executive Chef Ash Clarke and delivered by Head Chef Rob Hallinan. It’s hearty, fragrant, nicely presented and very much in keeping with the spirit of Dickensian hospitality. Dishes draw on Victorian ingredients and techniques but feel modern and comforting — perfect for a winter’s night. We enjoyed some cocktails made with period ingredients with our meal, though there is a good wine list too if cocktails aren't your thing.

Man standing in Victorian dress with a open book in his hands — David Alwyn as Dickens

Overall Thoughts

The Great Christmas Feast is, without question, a lovely and immersive festive experience. It’s warm, generous, beautifully staged and full of Christmas cheer. For me, the emotional journey of Scrooge didn’t fully land — possibly due to where I was seated or the limitations of the one-man format — but as a night out, it is charming, imaginative and certainly unique.

A solid three and a half stars, and a great choice for anyone wanting a festive evening that blends dining, theatre and atmosphere into one transportive package.