The marathon eight-month UK tour of the world premiere stage adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Valley Of Fear, from leading touring company Blackeyed Theatre, stops off at northern dates including Waterside Sale (March 3-4); Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough (May 18-20); Blackpool Grand (November 1-5) and the Viaduct Theatre in Halifax (November 25-26).
Adapted by Nick Lane, with original music by Tristan Parkes, The Valley of Fear sees Luke Barton and Joseph Derrington, who played Holmes and Watson respectively in previous Blackeyed international success The Sign Of Four, reprise their roles as the iconic duo.
A mysterious, coded message is received, the warning of imminent danger drawing Holmes and the faithful Dr Watson into a tale of intrigue and murder stretching from 221B Baker Street to an ancient, moated manor house and on to the bleak Pennsylvanian Vermissa Valley. Faced with a trail of bewildering clues, Holmes begins to unearth a darker, wider web of corruption, a secret society and the sinister work of Professor Moriarty.
Nick Lane said: “Of all the Holmes canon, The Valley of Fear isn't a story I've ever seen on stage – possibly because it's two tales in one, part in England, part in the US. We'll be working with choreographers and fight directors as well as a composer to create something thrilling and visceral. Thematically, both stories explore loyalty – but to say more about that might give away a twist I'm keen to keep to myself.”
As part of Blackeyed Theatre’s aim to make theatre more accessible to wider audiences, the show will also be available to stream online around the world from October, which will support Blackeyed’s commitment to education and young people – online access to the digital capture will be included for school groups booking to see the play in a theatre.