Sherlock Holmes, the search for inner truth

The extraordinary one-man show explores the inner truth about Holmes, as he emerges from two years in retirement and returns to Baker Street for the funeral of his life-long friend, Dr Watson.

The part was created by Conan Doyle expert David Stuart Davies, who injects wit, high drama and more than an elementary dose of pathos into the super-sleuth’s recollections of a crimes past and present.

It’s four years since the play won five stars at the Edinburgh Fringe, but thanks to Roger Llewellyn, who won the Shakespeare Prize during his days at RADA, it’s lost none of its original lustre.

At the last count he’s been touring for eight years in countries all over the world, clocking up more than 450 performances and winning standing ovations and critical acclaim in places like New York, Montreal and Hong Kong.

A BBC Arts Review critic said: “Llewellyn’s performance in this masterpiece of theatre was faultless and of the highest pedigree.”

And a reporter from Time Out in London wrote: “Roger Llewellyn precisely embodies Sherlock - Conan Doyle would have approved.”

Audiences at the Spa Centre on September 25 will see Roger tackling 14 different characters, but always reverting back to Holmes, exposing some suprising fears and weaknesses beneath the cool exterior.

This seems to be the point David Stuart Davies is making in his script, stripping away the famous clinical facade and telling us more about Holmes than he knows - or admits - to himself.

Tickets for Sherlock Holmes...the last act! cost £11 (concessions £10) and are available by ringing 334418 or visiting www.royalspacentreandtownhall.co.uk