When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains,
however improbable, must be the truth.
New dates have been announced for Blackeyed Theatre’s thrilling new adaptation of The Sign of Four, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s epic second Sherlock Holmes novel. Having successfully mystified audiences this autumn, this spectacular world premiere, adapted and directed by Nick Lane, will continue to tour to theatres across the UK throughout spring 2019, culminating in a four-week tour of China in July.
When Mary Morstan arrives at Baker Street to request help following the mysterious disappearance of her father, Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr Watson are plunged into a murky world of deception and a complex plot involving murder, corruption and stolen jewels.
Crammed full of adventure, romance, comedy and, of course, one or two rather brilliant deductions, this faithful adaptation will combine original live music, high energy theatricality and ensemble storytelling.
With music composed by Tristan Parkes, the cast of The Sign of Four features Luke Barton as Sherlock Holmes (The Unexpected Guest, Mill at Sonning; Misterman, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse), Joseph Derrington as Dr John Watson (The Importance of Being Earnest, MAC Belfast; The Canterville Ghost, Erasmus Theatre), Zach Lee as Jonathan Small (Bouncers, Glass Menagerie, Hull Truck; The Derby McQueen Affair, York Theatre Royal), Stephanie Rutherford as Mary Morstan (Kubla Khan, Mirror Mirror, Oily Cart; Cinderella, Derby Theatre), Christopher Glover as Dost Akbar (Peckham The Soap Opera, Royal Court; Eastenders, BBC) and Ru Hamilton as Thaddeus Sholto (Tipping the Velvet, Lyric Hammersmith; Peter Pan, Derby Theatre).
Director Nick Lane comments, I don't think I know anyone over the age of ten who doesn't know at least the name Sherlock Holmes. He is part of the literary fabric of this country - hugely popular and hugely adaptable - and his cases with Watson are a blueprint for so many crime novels, films, TV shows and theatre. We have approached this adaptation in a stylised way which will appeal to avid fans of the novel as well as those who simply want to come to the theatre and enjoy a rattling good crime story!
Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four is produced by Blackeyed Theatre in association with New Theatre Royal Portsmouth and South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell and supported by Arts Council England.
One of the most innovative, audacious companies working in contemporary English Theatre. (The Stage)
Running time 120 minutes (plus interval)
Twitter @Blackeyedtheatr, #SignofFour
Age Guidance 11+
Writer and Director Nick Lane
Composer Tristan Parkes
Set Designer Victoria Spearing
Lighting Designer Claire Childs
Costume Designer Naomi Gibbs
Movement Director Emma Webb
Producer Adrian McDougall
Cast
Sherlock Holmes Luke Barton
Dr John Watson Joseph Derrington
Mary Morstan Stephanie Rutherford
Thaddeus Sholto Ru Hamilton
Dost Akbar Christopher Glover
Jonathan Small Zach Lee
Performance Dates
Autumn 2018
2nd – 3rd Oct Hazlitt Theatre, 7.30pm
36 Earl St, Maidstone ME14 1PP
4th – 6th Oct Theatre Royal, 7.30pm (+3pm Sat)
Westgate St, Bury Saint Edmunds IP33 1QR
8th – 10th Oct Norwich Playhouse, 7.30pm Mon & Tues (+ 1pm Tues), 10.30am Wed
42-58, St Georges St, Norwich NR3 1AB
11th – 12th Oct Marina Theatre, 7.30pm (+2.30pm Fri)
Marina, Lowestoft NR32 1HH
16th – 18th Oct Waterside Arts Centre, 7.30pm (+1.30pm Wed)
1 Waterside, Sale M33 7ZF
19th – 20th Oct The Atkinson, 7.30pm (+1.30pm Sat)
Lord St, Southport PR8 1DB
30th – 31st Oct Octagon Theatre, 7.30pm
Hendford, Yeovil BA20 1UX
1st – 3rd Nov The Haymarket, 7.30pm (+2pm Sat)
Wote St, Basingstoke RG21 7NW
5th – 6th Nov Town Hall Theatre, 7.30pm
Market Pl, Loughborough LE11 3EB
8th – 10th Nov Garrick Theatre, 7.30pm (+2.30pm Sat)
Castle Dyke, Lichfield WS13 6HR
12th – 13th Nov Blake Theatre, 7pm
Almshouse St, Monmouth NP25 3XP
15th – 17th Nov New Theatre Royal, 7.30pm Thu & Sat (+2.30pm Sat), Fri 10.30am
20-24 Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth PO1 2DD
19th – 20th Nov Stantonbury Theatre, 7.30pm
Milton Keynes MK14 6BN
21st – 22nd Nov Cornerstone Arts Centre, 7.30pm
25 Station Rd, Didcot OX11 7NE
23rd – 24th Nov Palace Theatre, 7.30pm
Appleton Gate, Newark NG24 1JY
26th – 27th Nov Mumford Theatre, 7.30pm (+2pm Tues)
Anglia Ruskin University, East Rd, Cambridge CB1 1PT
29th Nov – 1st Dec Arena Theatre, 7.30pm (+1pm Fri)
Wulfruna St, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE
Spring 2019
21st – 22nd Jan Wyvern Theatre
Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1QN
23rd – 25th Jan Theatre Severn
Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury SY3 8FT
28th – 29th Jan Capitol Theatre
North St, Horsham RH12 1RG
31st Jan – 2nd Feb The Lighthouse
Poole's Centre For The Arts, 21 Kingland Rd, Poole BH15 1UG
5th – 9th Feb Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Millbrook, Guildford GU1 3UX
12th – 13th Feb Corn Exchange
Market Pl, Newbury RG14 5BD
14th – 16th Feb Theatre Royal Winchester
Jewry St, Winchester SO23 8SB
19th – 20th Feb Venue Cymru
The Promenade, Penrhyn Crescent, Llandudno LL30 1BB
21st – 22nd Feb Swan Theatre
The Moors, Worcester WR1 3ED
25th – 26th Feb The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre
Coal Orchard, Taunton TA1 1JL
28th Feb – 2nd Mar Shanklin Theatre
Prospect Rd, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6AJ
4th – 5th Mar Key Theatre
Embankment Rd, Peterborough PE1 1EF
7th – 9th Mar Lincoln Performing Arts Centre
University of Lincoln Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS
15th – 16th Mar Theater aan het Vrijthof
Maastricht, The Netherlands
18th Mar Parktheater
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
21st – 22nd Mar Harrogate Theatre
Oxford Street, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 1QF
25th – 26th Mar Grand Theatre
St Leonardgate, Lancaster LA1 1QW
27th – 28th Mar Charter Theatre
Lancaster Rd, Preston PR1 1HT
29th – 30th Mar Middlesbrough Theatre
The Avenue, Middlesbrough TS5 6SA
2nd – 3rd Apr Theatre Royal Wakefield
Drury Ln, Wakefield WF1 2TE
4th – 5th Apr Broadway Theatre, Letchworth
Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3DD
24th – 25th Apr Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock
Rouken Glen Rd, Giffnock, Glasgow G46 6UG
26th – 27th Apr Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh
Ladywell Way, Musselburgh EH21 6AA
30th Apr – 4th May Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
8 – 10 Compton Street, Eastbourne BN21 4BP
7th – 11th May Greenwich Theatre
Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES
14th – 18th May Festival Theatre, Malvern
Grange Road, Malvern WR14 3HB
21st May Palace Theatre, Mansfield
Leeming Street, Mansfield NG18 1NG
22nd – 23rd May Mercury Theatre, Colchester
Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT
24th – 25th May TBC
28th – 29th May Civic Theatre, Rotherham
Catherine Street, Rotherham S65 1EB
30th May – 1st June Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Westborough, Scarborough YO11 1JW
3rd – 4th June Rhodes Arts, Bishops Stortford
1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3JG
6th – 7th June Broadway Theatre, Barking
11-13 Broadway, Barking IG11 7LS
8th June – 9th July China
