11 Jun 2026
The game’s afoot for Deborah Heath as OVO raises the metaphorical curtain on this year’s Roman Theatre Festival…
Apparently, Sherlock Holmes has been awarded a world record for the most represented literary human character in film and TV, with more than 250 screen appearances. I have seen rather a lot of stage versions over the years too.
Now, whether you credit Edgar Alan Poe or Wilkie Collins with the accolade of writing the first piece of detective fiction, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes was probably the first famous, fictional detective. His enigmatic style and razor-sharp methods of deduction have bewitched readers for 140 years and the fact that we keep finding new ways of portraying him, means that he and his faithful Watson are likely to be with us for a long time to come.
OVO has therefore made a wise move in opening the 2026 festival with a crowd-pleasing choice like this. They also picked a great man for the job of adapting it for the stage – Mark O’Sullivan, OVO’s creative producer has a history of comedy writing and a knack for reinventing Victorian literature well, as OVO’s recent version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ proves.
In this stage realisation, O’Sullivan (who also directs the play) gives us a very well-structured exploration of five separate Sherlock Holmes stories – it is not necessarily done in a linear way and this keeps his audience engaged throughout. The focus here is definitely on bringing out the comedy of the characters and stories – it is a madcap, multi-role delight with a hardworking cast of four. However, the depth of Holmes and Watson’s friendship is well presented and there are some touching moments, especially towards the end.
Simon Nicolas’s set is a thing of beauty boasting a rich Victorian palette which is complemented by Cierannne Kennedy-Bell’s costume design (gorgeous pieces that are cleverly designed for quick changes). There are multiple levels, staircases, doors, all of which are well used by the actors for maximum comedy and the sense of creating a wider world.
The Roman Theatre site itself is also used to good effect, with the actors sometimes standing on the bank and speaking down to the stage, not to mention moving around the auditorium and interacting with the audience.
For the first time I had the delight of sitting in the posh covered seats at the back. This was a luxurious treat and I must confess to feeling relieved when the rain made an appearance and I remained dry. To be honest though, wherever you sit at the Roman Theatre, you can be sure of a great view and the performing will be so good that you probably won’t notice the rain!
So what of the acting? Well, this year, OVO are using a repertory company throughout the festival with each actor rehearsing one show as they perform another.
‘Sherlock Holmes’ boasts a team of four extremely energetic performers who are the top of their game. With everyone multi-roling and taking on different genders, we are presented with a fast-paced show that engages our full attention.
Lachlan McCall (Holmes) and Jessica Vickers (Irene Adler) are highly adept at changing between characters and adopting different physicalities.
OVO stalwart, Anna Macleod Franklin, is a particularly marvellous Watson showing his stoicism and loyalty perfectly as well as just the right touch of action-hero! The audience loved Max Gallagher’s Mrs Hudson – what a great piece of characterisation.
I am a Sherlock Holmes fan and probably like many readers, know most of the stories very well. I am not going to give spoilers by telling you which ones to expect, except to say that I was delighted to see my favourite, ‘The Red Headed League’ presented so well.
One of the things that sets OVO apart is how they use their props, costume and set as part of the story telling. This is due to actors, director and designers working as one. Sound (Ollie Welland) and lighting design (Jack Hathaway) are well employed to create the effects on an Opium Den in Act II.
In ‘The Red Headed League’ there is some hilarious use of wigs to create the impression of many people in a queue. One of my favourite devices was the way removeable picture frames were used by the actors for scene setting, for example, to denote the opening to a secret passage, then a window, then a family portrait (with the actor looking through). The audience roared with laughter every time a chair was used to indicate a horse drawn carriage.
The indication of a bustling London street in Act II was meticulously presented with similar devices and in fact there are so many such delights that I urge you to go and see them for yourself.
So, here are three reasons to catch this show before it closes on June 20:
1. You can always rely on a Sherlock adaptation for a great story!
2. You can always rely on OVO for some high-level stage, costume and prop design;
3. Specifically, ‘Sherlock Holmes’ will give you a really fun night out with a well- adapted script, fantastic acting and innovative use of props.
Congratulations to the OVO team for a smashing opening to their 2026 season!
All photos by Elliott Franks.
