Sherlock (back) in Homes

In a period in which the world of theatre has fought hard to adapt and survive, Sharp Teeth Theatre’s pivot to the digital stage has proved to be a big hit with audiences around the world.

Together with The Wardrobe Theatre, they have produced Sherlock in Homes, a smash-hit series of online murder mysteries for audiences to solve from their sofas.

Joining friends and families together from disparate locations, they aim to create a unique and fun connection in the online space that serves not only to entertain in periods where theatres have been dark, but beyond that, to reach the many audience members who are unable, or uncomfortable, with returning to in-person shows.

Audience members can join in groups, with at least two people recommended for each device accessing the performance.

As with the first two shows in the series, Murder in the Circus, and Murder on Ice, the audience for Sherlock in Homes 3: Murder at the Games are invited to interview the suspects and use their powers of deduction to work out the murderer.

On your marks, get set, go… to 1960 to solve a crime that will make your heart race. Could it be the chill of the cold war or the heat of the Italian sun? Zoom into Rome’s Olympic village to find out.

The murder suspects – photo: Chris Vaughan Photography

This third edition has been again been written by Peter Baker, whose experience working for the Agatha Christie estate and later with the improvised theatre show from Degrees of Error, Murder, She Didn’t Write, makes him ideally placed to create a murder mystery that’s is funny and sufficiently baffling enough to play out within the course of a show.

Artistic director of Sharp Teeth Theatre Stephanie Kempson tells Bristol 24/7 about the origins of the latest show, the challenges and opportunities of working on the digital stage, and what the future might hold for the company.

Could you give us an outline of the new show, and how the theme originated?

“Our first mystery was set in 1899 and the second in 1929, so for this one we wanted to travel forward in time a little further; we chose 1960s Rome during the summer Olympics.

“This period has given us lots to play with – it was the height of the Cold War so there was spying, underhand behaviour and a fierce rivalry between the Soviet Union and the USA. These Olympics were also the first televised Games, though it was only being shown in the US at the time.

“Crucially, this meant that huge numbers of people were seeing women and people of all races competing equally on the world stage, and this was a crucial seed for the 1960s civil rights movements. We have been particularly inspired by Wilma Rudolf, the gold medal winning US sprinter who was African American and lived under segregation in the south. She had overcome so much to be there (a pregnancy, polio and 1960s racism) and absolutely smashed it at the Olympics.

“After the successful of our first two Sherlocks in 2020 and earlier 2021, we were keen to deliver another mystery for audiences who are shielding or don’t feel comfortable going to the theatre because of the risk of the pandemic.

“We originally made Sherlock in Homes: Murder at the Circus because I knew so many brilliant improvisers, and murder mysteries were a format we all loved and enjoyed. All of us wanted to be making theatre despite the challenges of Covid; specifically, I wanted to continue making work despite the fact I was shielding. So, messing around on Zoom was our safest option.”

Corinna Buchan – photo: Chris Vaughan Photography

How does Sherlock in Homes 3: Murder at the Games fit into the series (following 1: Murder in the Circus, and 2: Murder on Ice)?

“This third mystery follows the same format as our previous two shows, using Zoom as the platform for audiences to become detectives and interview our witty improvisers to solve the crime – who killed Brad Minton?

“Our mysteries are easy to get into, but tricky to solve, and our brilliant improvisers are quick witted and silly. Audiences should find themselves following an excitingly twisty tale through their interviews, all created by writer Peter Baker.

“I expect audiences will recognise some of our brilliant performers who have become Sherlock in Homes regulars now, including Alice Lamb, Rachael Procter-Lane, Lucy Harrington, Peta Maurice, Caitlin Campbell and Corinna Buchan. We’re pleased to welcome a couple of newer cast members into the show as well, Corrine Walker and Savanna Griffiths.

“And there are a few changes with this production. We’ve worked with a brilliant Technical Director Chloe Mashiter to advance the technology and make it even high quality. We’ve also worked with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Design graduate Cat Fuller who has created some gorgeous set and character pieces.

“Once again, we have been generously supported by the Wardrobe Theatre, as well as Bristol Old Vic and Royal & Derngate, Northampton.”

What are the unique challenges and opportunities afforded by making theatre for the virtual stage?

“There are so many challenges. We had to invest in lots of new equipment to make sure we could create the best show, and finding a brilliant technical director during a pandemic is a task not to be sniffed at. We’ve definitely learned the best way to make sure the tech always behaves, though you have to allow for the occasional power cut. There’s also been the challenges of getting people on Zoom, as people associate it with work.

This third show has come at a time when in-person work is accessible once again but we’re thrilled that we have lots of returning audience members who still love our online murder mysteries.”

How much do you know about the demographic and geographical spread of your audience for the Sherlock in Homes shows to date? How might this differ from your in-person theatre shows such as Polly: The Heartbreak Opera?

“Our audience have tended to be based in Bristol, the south west and London with our previous in person work and we would usually play to around 100 people. For Sherlock In Homes 1 & 2 there could be around 250 people in a sold out show, and we did 17 shows in one week before Christmas! So, the sheer number of people we’ve reached has risen hugely.

“We’ve been able to reach international audiences with people joining us from the US, Senegal, Singapore, Brazil, Canada, Norway, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Ireland, China, Australia, New Zealand and more.

“The excitement of bringing people together globally has been brilliant. It’s a very cool buzz! I think the murder mystery format, our partnered theatres and the zoom boom of the pandemic have also empowered older audiences to try something new which is brilliant to see.

What does The Wardrobe Theatre offer you in terms of production and support?

“They’ve been brilliant. It was very unexpected that our first show would run so long, so they helped us grow as a company and advised us on finance and staff management for the long term. They also provided vital funding to help us run the shows for longer. Not to mention the fact that artistic director Matthew Whittle always comes and gives us excellent artistic advice for each show. It’s been brilliant to be partnered with them and receive such great support.

Sherlock in Homes regular, Alice Lamb – photo: Chris Vaughan Photography

Can you outline any of your future plans for Sharp Teeth? Will it be online, on stage, or a hybrid model?

“We’ll be looking at doing a mix of online and stage work, and we’re trying to find a way forward which can be more hybrid. The pandemic has shown how big the appetite is for theatre, despite the fact that not everyone can get to a theatre for whatever reason. I would really like to watch Berlin theatre without travelling to Berlin, or to have friends over and do an online interactive show beyond the pandemic! Hopefully from now on, the majority of work will be filmed and live streamed so that wider audiences can see it.

As well as more work being made which works online, there are some amazing companies making work in this area like Swamp Motel, Upstart Theatre, Secret Cinema, Pins and Needles Productions and Les Enfants Terrible. We may continue making our online murder mysteries, and we have plans to make a 360 film of one of our shows, as well as remounting our musical Polly: The Heartbreak Opera (made in collaboration with Marie Hamilton) for a live tour next year. It’s going to be an exciting year for Sharp Teeth!

Sherlock in Homes 3: Murder at the Games (suitable for 12+) is on most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays unti January 9, 2022. Tickets are available through the Bristol Old Vic box office at www.bristololdvic.org.uk.

Main photo: Chris Vaughan Photography

Read more: Sherlock in Homes to continue with new show

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