REVIEW: A Night of Sherlock Holmes - Nash Theatre

A Night of Sherlock Holmes

Three classic tales in radio play format

Directed by Jason Nash

Play 1: The Adventure of the Speckled Band

Play 2: A Scandal in Bohemia

Play 3: The Case of the Blue Carbuncle

“It’s my business to know what other people don’t know.”

If modern FM radio is all loud ads, endless chatter, and the same five songs on repeat, then this is its elegant, intelligent ancestor.

Long before podcasts, television, or breakfast hosts yelling nonsense in your car, radio was theatre placed right in your home. It relied on voice, atmosphere, and your own imagination. And Nash Theatre dives headfirst into that vintage magic with A Night of Sherlock Holmes.

Five vintage-style microphones line the front of the stage. A glowing “On Air” sign reminds us we are in the recording studio. An “Applause” light prompts our participation to clap like we mean it. Just performers, scripts and sound. But wait, what's that upstage? Along the back wall are three live foley artists, concocting entire worlds from an assortment of random objects. Hats off to Mark Corben, Lara Latham and Emma Latham, who clearly relish every second of their controlled chaos. Foley is a delicate craft though. Sometimes, we could hear every little rustle of their scripts and every accidental movement through the mics. Tightening those silent moments will make the illusion even more immersive.

Arthur Conan Doyle first unleashed the dynamic duo of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson upon the world in 1887, and it's hard to think of a literary character that's stuck around longer. Nash Theatre has made it a habit to kick off their year with a radio play, and this time they went for a hat-trick of Holmes adventures.

Director Jason Nash makes strong use of his experienced cast by rotating roles across the three plays. Between acts, the old-timey advertisements were humorous and well executed. However, trimming all the ads slightly next time would tighten the overall pacing. The jokes land without needing the entire promotional monologue, which probably adds 15 minutes to the run time. The short violin transitions between scenes paid a nice tribute to Holmes' musical inclinations. While I do question their necessity, they certainly added a touch of dramatic flourish.

There were nine performers in total, immaculately dressed in 1930s glamour. Ladies Sandy Adsett, Jenny Bonney-Millett and Kiah Latham embodied the era with polished poise. Red lips, pearls, furs and heels reminded us that even radio demanded style. Clear diction, supported projection and expressive delivery ensured that every clue landed cleanly. The cast remained fully engaged throughout. Even when seated, they listened and reacted. Mark Corben, in particular, was picking up every twist and turn. You'd think he was binge-watching his favourite show. By the end of the evening, I was mentally exhausted from the concentration because I enjoy trying to solve the mystery before the reveal.

Play One: 1930s – The Adventure of the Speckled Band

Domonic Thurlow stepped into the shoes of Sherlock like he was born with a magnifying glass in hand, alongside David Hill as Dr Watson to deliver a refined and measured interpretation. Domonic is a standout for his natural pacing and ease with accent work. His Holmes feels assured and grounded, never forcing the intellect but simply inhabiting it. Kiah Latham portrayed Helen Stoner with believable anxiety. Her voice carried genuine fear without tipping into melodrama. Bruce Edgerton’s Dr Grimesby Roylott was suitably booming and threatening, a voice that filled the room with menace. Meanwhile, in the foley corner, Lara Latham was having the time of her life. She frequently stole focus in the best way. The baboon sequence had the audience cackling because of the absolute commitment behind it.

Play Two: 1940s – A Scandal in Bohemia

The second story shifted tone into something more stylised and playful. Caleb Hockings delivered a loveable, slightly goofy Watson with a very committed “gov’ner!” accent that drew plenty of laughs. Alex Thompson’s Sherlock retained intellectual sharpness, though he did trip over a word or two. The accent buffet in this tale was quite the feat and had me recalibrating my ears with so many variations flying around. Bruce Edgerton’s German-accented King of Bohemia suited him comfortably. Matt McNeice’s Irish accent was perfectly convincing. One of the evening’s most memorable lines comes here: “I was once tricked by a woman.” Even Holmes, it seems, is not immune to humility.

Play Three: 1950s – The Case of the Blue Carbuncle

This was my personal favourite. For clarity, we are dealing with a dazzling blue gemstone here, not a dermatology 'carbuncle' emergency. Caleb Hockings returned, this time as Sherlock, opposite Matt McNeice as Dr Watson. Their back-and-forth was completely elementary, dear reader. Notably, they barely looked at their scripts, which gave their performance a freedom and confidence that lifted the entire piece. Set at Christmastime, the atmosphere was playful from the outset. Jingle bells rang. Carollers sang enthusiastically off key. Holmes began by deducing the entire life story of a man from a lost hat, played with smug precision by Caleb. His eyebrow acting alone conveyed complete intellectual superiority. Matt’s Watson was the perfect grounding force of the partnership, like a comforting cup of tea. Together, they most aligned with my mental image of the iconic duo. By this point, the humour was knowingly tongue-in-cheek, and it worked. Jenny Bonney-Millett’s radio announcer in this final segment was sometimes difficult to hear over the background music, but a little music adjustment would fix that in a jiffy.

Three decades. Three interpretations of Holmes and Watson. One nostalgic evening of storytelling. Radio theatre asks us to lean in and truly listen. It reminds us that you do not need spectacle to create compelling theatre. You need skilled performers, precise sound and an audience willing to imagine. By the end of the night, I was as mentally wiped out, because I love playing detective and cracking the case before the big reveal!

A Night of Sherlock Holmes delivers exactly that. If you enjoy clever dialogue, well-crafted accents, vintage glamour and the delight of watching artists clearly having a ball, this is well worth tuning into.