Holmes and Watson: The reviews are in!
Liam Nooney plays 'Anna Anderson' in Holmes and Watson: The Farewell tour
Holmes and Watson: The Farewell Tour, directed by Tristan and Starring Liam Nooney and Adrian Banks has now closed after a largely sold out run during this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The show received three and four star reviews from several publications including Broadway Baby who said:
"Sherlock Holmes meets a theatrical farce in this intelligently written double act that sparkles like the Blue Carbuncle.
The Farewell Tour introduces us to Holmes and Watson’s last joint adventure before Holmes retires to Sussex. However, Lestrade and Mrs Hudson (the other two performers) and the stagehands have all mysteriously disappeared, along with all the set. Therefore, it is down to Holmes and Watson to take on the roles of a Prime Minister in a pickle and his mistress the vaudeville singer, whilst also keeping an eye out for the long shadow of Moriarty. This is a well-researched piece with quotes from the original stories woven into the script, the Victorian era setting, and plenty of use of ‘the E word’, but it also utilises more modern interpretations of the tales, as the two attempt to dance around the homoerotic undertones and fall flat on their faces. As always, the story is just as much about the relationship between Holmes and Watson as it is the mystery. Throw in some well-choreographed, ridiculous stage fighting, a seduction scene confusing for everyone involved, some excellent lurking and a post-coital handshake, and it becomes an excellent romp of a mystery that will have you laughing along.
The performances of Holmes & Watson are great, taking enough of the original material to make them familiar, but adding a personal flair to each. Holmes, tending to distraction and addiction, ends up saying the wrong thing, and Watson prances around the stage, enjoying the opportunity to perform his favourite Shakespearian roles; the easy rivalry allows the two to fight for the limelight. The script is ingenious, full of zinging dialogue which causes fits of giggles.
The costumes are on point, putting Holmes in his signature deer-stalker and great coat. There is lovely interplay between the technicians and the character of Holmes, as Holmes snaps his fingers for light and sound cues to trigger.
It is a shame the scenes on the floor are difficult to see beyond the front row. This is particularly disappointing as they are the heartfelt ones, which leave the audience fidgeting for the comedy to resume. Holmes is full of smooth faced focus, but this runs the danger of him looking lost and bored in the background of scenes.
I would recommend this show to anyone who is a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories or characters, but also to anyone looking for an intelligent two-hander.
The production, produced by David Adkin LTD will tour in Spring 2017.
Holmes and Watson: The Farewell Tour- Previews announced and trailer unveiled!
Adrian Banks and Liam Nooney play Holmes and Watson in Stuart Fortey's play
The trailer has landed for David Adkin's production of "Holmes and Watson:The Farewell Tour", which Tristan is directing for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer.
Tickets can now be booked for the run at The Space Two, Edinburgh:
Previews have also been announced for the 21st July at The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury and the 27th July at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, London.
She Said She Wouldn't
Jess Lloyd Jones, Krage Brown and the creative team behind "She Said She Wouldn't"
Tristan was delighted to work with Oxford based writer Hannah Greenstreat, Assistant Director Griff Rees and actors Krage Brown and Jess Lloyd Jones on a short play "She Said She Wouldn't" as part of Offbeat Festival's 24 Hour Plays challenge.
The play, set in the Nine Lives Cat Sanctuary, was devised by the company into the early hours of Tuesday morning, the script delivered by the writer at 7am and then rehearsed throughout the day in preparation for a performance at The Old Fire Station, Oxford in the evening.
There was a Q&A with each group after their plays were performed and audience feedback was offered. The event was organised by Oxfordshire Theatre Makers and the Offbeat Festival continues throughout the week.
Tristan directs piece for the Offbeat festival Oxford
Tristan will shortly begin work with a team of Oxford theatre makers to present a 24 hour play as part of Oxford's Offbeat Festival in association with the Oxford Playhouse and Old Fire Station Theatre.
Devising will begin this evening and scriptwriting will take place into the early hours of Tuesday morning. Rehearsals will then dominate Tuesday afternoon and the piece will be performed alongside three other 24 hour plays at the Old Fire Station on the evening of the 21st.
Tickets are available on the day for OFS shows from the Old Fire Station box office*
You can also buy from Tickets Oxford by calling 01865 305305 or visiting www.ticketsoxford.com
Tristan join's Creation Theatre for a rehearsed reading of "The First Quarto" version of Hamlet
The First Quarto version of Hamlet from 1604
Tristan will join a cast of 8 for a rehearsed reading of "The First Quarto" version of Hamlet with Creation Theatre Company in Oxford.
With Gertrude cast as Hamlet’s accomplice and many other unexplained oddities, audiences can expect a play that is quite different from the text of today.
There will be two performances, one on the 10th of June at Blackwells Bookshop and one on 11th June at Lady Margaret Hall.
The cast is as follows:
Claire Andreadis: Queen Gertred
Clare Humphrey: Horatio
Gavin Molloy: Marcellus / Voltemar/ Montano/ Laertes/ Guilderstone
Michael Palmer: Corambis (Polonius)/ Clowne Gravedigger
Tristan Pate: Centinel 2/ Rossencraft / Priest/ Foppish Gentleman
Natasha Rickman: Ofelia/ Second Clowne Gravedigger
Michael Sheldon: Ghost of Old Hamlet/ King (Claudius)/ The Player King
Chris York: Hamlet
Holmes and Watson: The Farewell Tour at the Space, Edinburgh
Tristan will direct "Holmes and Watson: The Farewell Tour" for this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The play, written by Stuart Fortey and produced by David Adkin will play at the The Space, Edinburgh at 8.25pm daily from the 15th-27th of August.
A national tour is then planned for Spring 2017.
The play will feature Adrian Banks as Sherlock Holmes and Liam Nooney as Dr Watson and will be rehearsed in Oxfordshire in the weeks leading up to the festival. There will be preview performances at several Oxfordshire venues in July, to be announced shortly.
The play is a slapstick farce, very much in keeping with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original Victorian setting, featuring all of the intrigue and excitement you'd expect from the classic stories, as well as music of the period, some daring escapades and shocking new light cast on famous Holmes cases...
Cinderella opens
Tristan's production of Cinderella opened last week at the Wykham Theatre, Banbury. The show, co-written with Penny Tasker and Holly Creed and with music by Tristan and Adrian Banks has played to full houses and great audience feedback. It is estimated over 3,000 people will see the pantomime over it's run, CTC's annual production remaining Banbury's premier pantomime.
CTC's Cinderella: 8th-17th January 2016, Wykham Theatre, Banbury.
Rehearsals start for Cinderella
Having concluded the first leg of the Great Gatsby tour in Hexham last week, Tristan has begun rehearsals in earnest for Cinderella, which he directs for Cherwell Theatre Company this year.
The production runs at the Wykham Theatre, Banbury Academy from 8th-17th January 2016.
The young cast of Cinderella in rehearsals.
Adrian Banks, Jessie Braviner and Liam Nooney from our adult cast recently spoke about the show with Alex on That's Oxford.
To keep up with rehearsal blogs video and exclusive content
Tristan directs Cinderella for CTC, January 2016
Following the success of last year's Robin Hood, Tristan will return to direct Cherwell Theatre Company's eleventh festive production Cinderella at the Wykham Theatre in Banbury this January.
Once again, Tristan has co-written the script with Penny Tasker and Holly Creed and composed original songs alongside Adrian Banks.
The production runs from the 8th-17th January 2016 at the Wykham Theatre Banbury.
Meet the cast of Cinderella
