★★★★★
“ A sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, always exciting and incredibly entertaining piece of theatre – a thrilling insight into the mind of the detective genius that is Sherlock Holmes ”
★★★★★
“ Superbly adapted for the live stage by Nick Lane for this outstanding production by Blackeyed Theatre ”
★★★★★
“ A masterclass in all things theatrical ”
★★★★★
“ Time flies by from start to end, and it is a joy to watch ”
★★★★★
“ It really was fantastic ”
★★★★★
“ A hugely entertaining and gripping new production, staying faithful to the spirit of the original whilst taking on a life of its own – you won’t be disappointed. ”
★★★★
“ This thrilling production sparkles with excitement and will give you a gem of an evening ”
★★★★
“ A most original take on a work that presents its problems with regard to staging, this is a very entertaining production; thoroughly enhanced by the music of Tristan Parkes. By going back to the spirit of Conan Doyle’s novel and avoiding the more clichéd representations of Holmes and Watson this should appeal to fans and non-fans alike ”
★★★★
“ Blackeyed Theatre has prevailed in putting their stamp onto the deerstalker, with an atmospheric production with no short supply of talented individuals ”
★★★★
“ All the boxes are ticked with Barton’s ‘consulting detective’ brimming with arrogance, possessing a monumental ego and a renowned drugs habit…this is a young, very engaging sleuth who fixes the audience with a gimlet eye before deducing – with impeccable diction – the answer to a fiendishly clever plot…. Mysterious, evocative and stylish, The Sign of Four is a tense and engaging action thriller from start to finish ”
★★★★
“ A dark, gripping stage presentation of one of Holmes’ most complex cases ”
★★★★
“ A well-adapted and cleverly staged Sherlock Holmes adaptation, The Sign of Four is an entertaining and engaging production ”
“ A glorious triumph all round. The magic of a superbly crafted, well paced, flowing script is magnificently enhanced by beautiful set, lighting and costume, a multi-talented cast of six and an underscore of vibrant, live incidental music ”
“ buzzes with energy, wit and mystery… a treat for Holmes fans and those who just like a good crime yarn ”
“ A superb, original production… Blackeyed Theatre fills the stage with freshness and originality… This is very fine theatre…This company conspires with its audience and wraps us in as conspirators ”
“ The whole cast, some of who do double, triple and quadruple roles are excellent, and there’s not one who isn’t interesting when on stage, or playing one of the many instruments to set the scene. With music composed by Tristan Parkes the soundscapes are lovely, blending sitar, guitar, flute, and trombone into an Anglo-Indian delight ”
“ thrilling, funny and endlessly creative ”
“ a fine cast led by Luke Barton as the brilliant, charismatic but infuriating Holmes and Joseph Derrington as his long-suffering sidekick Doctor Watson, a wonderfully evocative set and superb costumes, sound and lighting ”
“ Slick, stylish and seamless ”
“ What makes this production so refreshing is that the two are delivered by such obviously young men – and it works exceedingly well as they plunge into the murkiest of tales, one rooted in stolen treasure, Indian uprising, convicts, betrayal and murder. Put it all together and it is more than enough to spark Holmes into action ”
“ gives the frustrated Sherlockian everything they could ask for in an evening ”
“ Stephanie Rutherford is refined and respectable as Mary, but expertly switches demeanour and voice to suit as the two working class women. Christopher Glover is bombastically funny as policeman Athelney-Jones, so sure he has solved the murder mystery, and a complete contrast as Indian Khan. Ru Hamilton has fun with hypochondriac Thaddeus Sholto but with a completely different attitude as Major Sholto, his twin, while Zach Lee comes into his own towards the end with a long, involved speech which he delivers with panache. Barton and Derrington as Holmes and Watson have the luxury of a single role each, which they both have nailed perfectly ”
“ The Blackeyed company has a reputation for giving literary classics a new interpretation and this production, adapted and directed by Nick Lane, will please traditionalists and the modern-minded alike ”
“ a lovely piece of theatre with an original score by Tristan Parkes, nice direction and atmospheric lighting ”
“ a production to be enjoyed by all those who are fascinated by the events in the life of our friends from 221B Baker Street ”
“ an incredible portrayal of belief, one that strikes at the memory of past productions, and gently, and with humility, sets itself apart from the rest. A play that is clued up on how to keep an audience on its toes – 9/10 ”
“ a real treat that’ll have you thrilled from beginning to end – 9/10 ”
“ cohesive, well constructed and amazingly performed ”
“ A classic story uniquely brought to life… a must see ”
