Sherlock Holmes and the Hunt for Moriarty
Photo: Asun Olivan
Review by Georgina Clark.
The New Wolsey Theatre is currently welcoming the talented Blackeyed Theatre for their thrilling tale of ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Hunt for Moriarty’.
In this story we follow the well-known (and well-loved) characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson as they investigate a fascinating case of high governmental importance. And we see Holmes hunting down his infamous enemy, Moriarty, who is always one step ahead and mocking Holmes with his cunning and deception.
Now, I do not wish to reveal too much of the story, but it’s full of sharp wit, thought-provoking ideas and constant twists - just as you would expect from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective. The twists were, in fact, so good that I saw none of them coming, and I certainly never guessed who was involved (and that’s quite a feat as I do like to over analyse and predict things!)
By the end of the first act, I was completely invested in the story. By the end of the second act, I was truly on the edge of my seat! In short, this play is just like a good book, you’ll take a little white to get into it and then you’ll find yourself desperate to turn the page!
The script is beautifully written, and Director Nick Lane has truly captured the essence of the original books. Indeed, for anyone who is a fan of literature, the performance is worth the watch just for the writing - the language is poetic.
Photo: Asun Olivan
The story builds very slowly, and the lights and music create tension well. Unfortunately, the start of the play on opening night was delayed due to lighting issues, and I do think this had a small impact on the actors during the opening scenes. However, the apprehension seemed to dissipate and the actors ultimately fell into their roles perfectly. And once fixed, the lighting created wonderful shadows and contrasts, and the use of strobe lighting during stage combat not only created dramatic tension but made the scene an exhilarating watch. (The stage combat scenes without this did sometimes feel a little awkward.)
The staging is very rustic and eerie which also helps to keep the atmosphere of the play, and its simplicity allows the actors to move the set round seamlessly and in character, creating smooth transitions and keeping the story flowing.
Some actors are playing many characters, but simple costume changes, altered accents and subtle differances in posture make keeping up with who’s who easy.
Photo: Asun Olivan
A few key performers who stood out to me…
Mark Knightley embodies my image of Sherlock perfectly. His subtle mannerisms, such as fidgeting hands and constant urgency in his movements, creates a clear picture of the character without ‘over doing it’.
Elliot Giuralarocca, who plays many characters during the performance, shows his diverse range in this show. For our performance, he won the audience with some, made us hate him with others and even made us chuckle at times.
Ben Owora’s Dr Watson started a little rushed, with his accent sometimes slipping in the first act. By the second act, however, this seemed to have disappeared. To be fair, with his job being to narrate as Watson, he has a lot of beautiful and complex dialogue, so to occasionally stumble over some words is completely understandable. His warm performance is utterly endearing and I was impressed by his ability to use facial expressions in a way that even those at the back of the audience can read them, yet they look subtle and natural.
Overall, I think this is a performance that would be loved by fans of theatre and literature alike. So, why not go along and see if your powers of observation and deduction can solve Sherlock Holmes’s toughest case yet?
But be sure to have a coffee before you go, so you can keep up with the stories twists and turns!
Sherlock Holmes and the Hunt for Moriarty is at New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich until 13 September.
FOR SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE
Also showing at Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds on 30 September - 4 October 2025. Click HERE for details.