SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE VALLEY OF FEAR brought to life on stage in upcoming tour
This autumn, Blackeyed Theatre will bring to life The Valley of Fear, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s thrilling final Sherlock Holmes novel, in an electric new stage adaptation, touring from September.
This gripping world premiere is full of mystery and adventure, and combines original music, stylish theatricality and magical story-telling for an unforgettable experience.
A mysterious, coded message is received, a warning of imminent danger, drawing Sherlock Holmes and the faithful Dr Watson into a tale of intrigue and murder stretching from 221B Baker Street to an ancient moated manor house to the bleak Pennsylvania Vermissa Valley. Faced with a trail of bewildering clues, Holmes begins to unearth a darker, wider web of corruption, a secret society and the sinister work of one Professor Moriarty.
Adapted by Nick Lane with original music composed by Tristan Parkers, The Valley of Fear sees Luke Barton (One Man, Two Guvnors, New Wolsey/Nuffield Theatres UK Tour) and Joseph Derrington (The importance of Being Earnest, MAC Belfast), who played Holmes and Watson respectively in Blackeyed Theatre’s international tour of The Sign of Four, reprise their critically-acclaimed roles as the iconic duo.
The cast also includes Blake Kubena (Vikings, Amazon Prime/History Channel) as Jack McMurdo and Detective White-Mason; Gavin Molloy (The Alchemist, Riverside Studios) as Jack McGinty, Cecil Barker, Inspector McDonald and Moriarty, and Alice Osmanksi (Some Mothers Do Ave Em, UK Tour) as Ettie Shafter, Mrs Hudson, Ivy Douglas and Captain Marvin.
Writer/Director Nick Lane said: “Of all Holmes’ canon, The Valley of Fear isn’t a story I’ve ever seen brought to the stage – possibly because it’s two tales in one, almost – part of it taking place in England, another part in the US. the thrill for me, being a huge fan of crime fiction on both sides of the Atlantic, was in exploring the different tones of the two narratives; points where they mirror one another, points where they diverge… It was a challenge, but an exciting one. We’ll be working with choreographers and fight directors as well as a composer to create something thrilling and visceral. Thematically, both stories, explore loyalty – but to say more about that might give away a twist I’m keen to keep to myself.”
As part of Blackeyed Theatre’s aim to make theatre more accessible to wider audiences, Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear will also be available to stream online worldwide from October.
The tour opens in Bracknell from 14-16 September, before travelling to Tonbridge, London, Bury St Edmunds, Norwich, Eastbourne, Peterborough, Winchester , Swindon, Blackpool, Lincoln, Crewe, Leamington Spa, Wellingborough, Wolverhampton and Halifax.