This month, UpStage Theatre invites audiences to a classic whodunit with their thrilling new production, The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Set against the eerie backdrop of the English moors, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic Sherlock Holmes mystery will be brought to life in this stage adaptation written by Tim Churchill and Catherine O’Reilly.
Starring as Sherlock Holmes is Toby Chittenden, who said that playing the extraordinary and quirky character was incredibly exciting and a great privilege for him.
“From the time I was a child I have loved the Sherlock Holmes stories and loved reading them to my kids too,” Toby said.
“Sherlock Holmes has an incredible eye for detail and an uncanny ability to ‘connect the dots’ in ways that no one else seemingly can, so I see him as a man who believes (usually quite rightly?) that he is always one step ahead of everyone else, if not the smartest person in the room!”
Toby said he prepared for the role by revisiting the original story and visualising it as a stage performance.
“I have deliberately not re-watched any of the film versions of the story as I want to try and bring my own ‘spin’ on the role and not risk being influenced by any of the (admittedly wonderful) interpretations of Holmes,” he said.
Mystery, Suspense, and an Iconic Duo
The Hound of the Baskervilles centres on the haunting curse plaguing the Baskerville family and the ghostly hound that hunts them.
Director David Bell said the story highlighted the character of Dr Watson, played by Shaun King, and allowed him to take centre stage.
“Sherlock Holmes solves the mystery but Watson lays the groundwork,” David said. “The other characters provide excellent red herrings to keep the audience guessing.”
He said that one of the challenges that came with staging an iconic Sherlock Holmes tale was making it “as real as possible”.
“Characters are important and I have worked to develop the actors to portray the story as told by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,” he said.
UpStage Theatre’s president Virginia Gray thanked Banyo Bowls Club for providing rehearsal space and other local theatre groups for lending props, costumes and sets.
“You have to love community groups who can work together and support each other,” Virginia said.
Tickets are $20 (excluding ticket fee). To book, go to www.trybooking.com/CXZUF or contact Virginia on 0422 709 956.
The Hound of the Baskervilles
- Fridays & Weekends, 28 March-6 April; 2pm-4.30pm & 7.30pm-10pm (see schedule here.)
- Wonargo Cultural Centre
- 62 Flower Street, Northgate
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