Off West End theatre
A new game is afoot at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre!
In London 1890, a mysterious woman and a jewel turn up at 221B Baker Street and thrust Sherlock Holmes and John Watson into a case that is far more complicated than it first appeared. A dark and murderous journey, they race to try and stop an unknown enemy from executing their devious plan which threatens to plunge London (and the wider country) into complete mayhem.
As an avid lover and consumer of anything Sherlock Holmes related, when I saw that a new Holmes story would be coming to London – and especially at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, I knew that I would immediately be booking tickets to go and see it. We all have an idea about what a Holmes mystery consists of, and this show has everything: intrigue, murder, and brilliant deductions with a dose of danger thrown in – it is familiar yet feels brand new.
The story itself is a completely new Sherlock Holmes adventure written by Joel Horwood and directed by (the aptly named) Sean Holmes, with subtle influences from A Sign of Four. There are a few amusing modern quirks too – which help to keep the story light, and to update the lore surrounding the characters. From quick scene changes to modern-style dance breaks, Sherlock Holmes developed a rapid pace from the very beginning. Whilst being effective in immersing the audience in 1890’s London, sometimes it made the plot a tad difficult to follow. Also, sometimes the numerous sub plots and themes made the story too overwhelmed with information and nuances.
Joshua James as Sherlock Holmes was both comedically and intellectually sharp, brash, and stylish yet nuanced, and it was clear to see that he was fully embracing the different facets of Sherlock’s personality. Jyuddah James as Watson was steady and grounding yet captivating – so both complemented the other, and their chemistry brought the characters to life and made them distinct from the hundreds of past variations of this iconic pairing. Nadi Kemp-Sayfi as Mary Morstan was incredible and gave a very strong and polished performance.
The staging of this show was equally as impressive as the talent on stage. The revolving stage kept the action and the story moving, Charlotte Broom’s choreography added an extra layer of theatrical flourish, Elena Peña’s sound design was thrillingly immersive, and Grace Smart’s set design was simple yet extremely effective – all framed in a broken proscenium arch (which doubled as a climbing rig). The most impressive aspect was the imaginative use of the wider theatre space – and without giving too much away, every angle of the theatre was used, and it was thrilling.
Overall, this is such a marvellous reimagining of the classic tales from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the characters of Holmes and Watson are vividly brought to life. Despite the issues surrounding its pacing and somewhat overstuffed plot, this show is for you if you enjoy mysteries and thrillers, or just want to explore a new and different Sherlock Holmes story.
I had never been to this theatre before and I cannot believe it has taken me this long! It is such a beautiful space, and I will definitely be going back. It helped that my first visit was at the beginning of an impending heatwave, rather than in a downpour too. I saw a matinee performance, so some of Ryan Day’s lighting design was lost – it would be very interesting to go and see this show in the evening and be able to have an even better visual experience!
Sherlock Holmes is playing at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 6th June 2026.
Buy your tickets here: https://openairtheatre.com/production/sherlock-holmes
Written by Helena Featherstone
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