Blackeyed Theatre Launches UK Tour of Sherlock Holmes

Blackeyed Theatre will tour a world premiere of Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriartyby Nick  Lane, based on the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This major UK touring production will open at  Theatre Royal Winchester this September before touring to theatres across the UK until May 2026.  With powerful performances, a thrilling soundscape and innovative design, this new production  interweaves a selection of Sherlock Holmes short stories into a single narrative.

London, 1901. As the British Empire wages war in the name of a Queen whose health is failing, a  series of mysterious events reveals a crack in the high corridors of power that threatens to  destabilise monarchy, government and Empire. At its centre, controlling the flow of information  and influence, is a shadowy figure planning a final deadly move.

Drawn into the game and unsure who to trust, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves  confronting figures from their past in a desperate race against time, aware that the most powerful  person in the world could be in the pocket of one of the most corrupt. But just how much is  Holmes willing to sacrifice as he faces ‘checkmate’?

The cast comprises Mark Knightley (The Colours, Soho Theatre; The Listening Room, The Lowry,  Northern Stage, Theatr Clwyd) as Sherlock Holmes, Ben Owora (Still Breathing, Unlock The Chains  Collective; Mary Queen of Scots, English National Opera) as Doctor Watson and Pippa Caddick (The  Weyard Sisters, Riverside Studios; Witches of God– Amazon Prime) as Irene Adler and Mrs Hudson.  They are joined by, Gavin Molloy (Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear, Blackeyed Theatre; The  Alchemist, Riverside Studios) as Professor Moriarty and Inspector Lestrade, Robbie Capaldi (Do You  Believe In Ghosts?, Adelphi Theatre, West End; Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Universal/Warner Brothers) as Sir James DeWilde and Eliot Giuralarocca (Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall; Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Harold Pinter Theatre, West End) as  Mycroft Holmes.

Writer and Director Nick Lane comments, After working with Blackeyed on two previous  adaptations of Conan Doyle novels (The Sign of Four and The Valley of Fear) it was really exciting to  be asked back to create something a little different for our third Holmes collaboration. So, we’ve  pulled together a handful of the wonderful short stories – or “adventures,” as Conan Doyle entitles  them – and interwoven them into one singular, thrilling tale featuring Holmes’ most feared, but  little-seen, adversary Professor Moriarty. It’s been fun capturing the pace, the spirit and the  character of Doyle’s original adventures, and our hope is that, like the stories themselves, The Hunt  for Moriarty will keep audiences gripped – and guessing – along with the great detective himself,  right to the last. 

The Hunt for Moriartyoffers both Holmes fans and those new to the canon a thrilling new spy  adventure that remains true to Conan Doyle’s work. The short stories used in the play are The  Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans, A Scandal in Bohemia, The Adventure of the Second Stain  and The Final Problem. 

Main Image: Courtesy of Sherlock Holmes

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