The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Molly Taylor

Storyhouse/Grosvenor Park Open AIr Theatre production

Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

July 24-August 31, 2025; 2hrs

It's all kicking off in the local pub: Ethan Reid as Sherlock and Alyce Liburd (in yellow) as Watson in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. All pics: Mark McNulty

What do you do with the character of Sherlock Holmes?  He is so iconic, but also so open to parody. 

This Storyhouse Adventures of Sherlock Holmes at the Open Air Theatre in the city's Grosvenor Park brings him into the 21st Century, moves him north and makes him a celebrity. And full marks to writer Molly Taylor and the cast for coming up with an original mystery and a new setting while retaining Holmes' acute observations and logical reasoning. A super sleuth indeed.

The storyline is more intricate than you might expect of an open-air show, with plenty of twists, turns and red herrings, with plenty of humour and audience participation. Holmes’s female assistant, Jo Watson, is interviewed about her latest book, and recounts what happened the last time she was in Chester at a CrimeCon conference. She relates a multi-layered story involving the stealing of a priceless painting, a kidnapping, a murder and the disappearance of Holmes before they uncover what the actual mystery is.  The audience warmed to the show immediately, and especially when three members of the audience were singled out to be part of a criminal gang, to take part in an identity parade. Of course this was merely an excuse to make fun of them.

Ethan Reid is excellent as Holmes. Combining a straight face with plenty of one-liners, he works very well with Alyce Liburd as Watson, developing an endearing relationship with an awkwardness in more intimate situations: heaven forbid that Holmes should be romantic! 

Howard Chadwick gets great comic touches as DCI Ray, combining seriousness and incompetence beautifully. 

These are ably supported by a Scouse criminal gang, a posse of nuns and some rogue decorators. Full marks to the theatre for giving two actors from the Storyhouse Young Company their professional debuts too.

The play has been created to be highly suitable for the open-air, in-the-round setting. It's light-hearted and frivolous, but never forgets there's a story to tell. The first act in particular is full of slapstick humour and parody, which develops into a second half of greater depth. The elements combine and produce an excellent evening's entertainment, thoroughly appreciated by all.

More info and tickets here