theSpace @ Surgeons Hall
4/8/23

Haud Ignota Loquor

“No time for tea, Mrs Hudson, the game is afoot!” Sherlock Holmes is on the case in Edinburgh, the city of course where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first conceived of Holmes for ‘A Study in Scarlet’ (1887). How fitting that this piece be staged at Surgeon’s Hall given that the character of Sherlock Holmes was inspired by Dr Bell, the enigmatic doctor from the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with an acute eye for inference.

Prepare to live the major moments of Holmes’ life vicariously through the raconteuring of veteran actor, Nigel Miles-Thomas. Written by Conan Doyle expert, David Stuart Davies and directed by Gareth Armstrong, a steady stream of biographical interpretations and insights adorn this nostalgic contribution to the Holmes canon. Best enjoyed by enthusiasts who would be moved by a commited theatricalisation of the character they know and love.

Miles-Thomas delivers a suitably compelling Holmes, more than capable of stalking the shadowy alleyways of old London town. Accompanying Holmes is another 13 characters, all played by Miles-Thomas to paint a rich canvass for the imagination.

The dedication from both performer and director is evident in this hour long piece, with a level of detail befitting the expertise and accumulated knowledge of Davies. The scope of the show would benefit from expansion via another actor or two but given the understandable practical benefits of the one-person format, they nevertheless make appropriate use of the form.

This is a piece to warm the hearts of Holmes afficionados and fans alike, with a healthy serving of the inimitable Conan Doyle macabre. Beware the gigantic hound!

Stuart Bruce