The Secret of Sherlock Holmes by Jeremy Paul

21st - 28th September 2002

Party Piece programme cover

By Richard Harris

Cast:

DR WATSON , Tom Bird

SHERLOCK HOLMES , Stephen Downing

PROFESSOR MORIARTY , Martin Wade

HOUSE MAIDS , Gemma Mills & Jayne Mills

An O.R.P Production directed by Sue Downing.

Crew:

SET DESIGN : Ray Lockey

LIGHTING DESIGN : Alan Wood

STAGE MANAGER : Martin Wade

SET CONSTRUCTION : John Upton, Peter Corser, Danny Hulse, Vicky Tressler, Martin Wade, Dave Palmer, Peter Turton, Jo Eyres

PROPS : Gemma & Jayne Mills

SOUND : Gillian Lessiter, Alan Wood

LIGHTING OPERATOR : Scott Vanes

PROMPT : Anita Smith, Sandra Bird

COSTUME : ORP Wardrobe, Birmingham Costume Hire

Our thanks to Carole Andrews and Amanda Watts for providing Scientific Props

The Play:

Created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the late 1880's, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are the most celebrated characters in British detection. Little is known about their privatel ives, being overshadowed by their enormous public persona.

The Secret of Sherlock Holmes' goes beyond Baker street and deerstalker hats to the Reichenbach falls where Holmes confronts his most famous adversary, professor Moriarty. What was their secret, and why did Holmes allow Watson, his closest friend, to believe he was dead for three long years?

The Players:

Tom Bird and Stephen Downing met in 1966, having joined Oldbury Rep as two skinny youths, forging a lifelong friendship. Several years and a myriad of romantic leads behind them, we see them now as the ultimate bachelor companions.

The action takes place in 221b Baker Street, Dr Watson's surgery and various locations in London and in Switzerland..