This autumn, Blackeyed Theatre are back with a thrilling new adaptation of The Sign of Four – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s epic second Sherlock Holmes novel.

In association with New Theatre Royal Portsmouth and South Hill Park Arts Centre it will be touring the UK until spring next year.  September 2018 – April 2019.

Crammed full of adventure, romance, comedy and, of course, one or two rather brilliant deductions, this faithful adaptation sees Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr Watson use their powers of deception to solve the mysterious disappearance to Mary Morstan’s father.

This fabulous play will appeal to devoted fans, adults, children and budding detectives alike, and will combine live music, composed by Tristan Parkes, and ensemble storytelling.

When Mary Morstan arrives at Baker Street to request help following the mysterious disappearance of her father, Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr Watson are plunged into a murky world of deception and a complex plot involving murder, corruption and stolen jewels.

The cast features Luke Barton as Sherlock Holmes (The Unexpected Guest, Mill at Sonning; Misterman, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse), Joseph Derrington as Dr John Watson (The Importance of Being Earnest, MAC Belfast; The Canterville Ghost, Erasmus Theatre), Zach Lee as Jonathan Small (Bouncers, Glass Menagerie, Hull Truck; The Derby McQueen Affair, York Theatre Royal), Stephanie Rutherford as Mary Morstan (Kubla Khan, Mirror Mirror, Oily Cart; Cinderella, Derby Theatre), Christopher Glover as Dost Akbar (Peckham The Soap Opera, Royal Court; Eastenders, BBC) and Ru Hamilton as Thaddeus Sholto (Tipping the Velvet, Lyric Hammersmith; Peter Pan, Derby Theatre).

Director Nick Lane comments, I don’t think I know anyone over the age of ten who doesn’t know at least the name Sherlock Holmes. He is part of the literary fabric of this country – hugely popular and hugely adaptable – and his cases with Watson are a blueprint for so many crime novels, films, TV shows and theatre. We have approached this adaptation in a stylised way which will appeal to avid fans of the novel as well as those who simply want to come to the theatre and enjoy a rattling good crime story!

Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four is produced by Blackeyed Theatre in association with New Theatre Royal Portsmouth and South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell and supported by Arts Council England.

Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four

Running time 120 minutes (including interval)

Twitter @Blackeyedtheatr, #SignofFour

Tour details: Blackeyed Theatre

Age Guidance 11+

It most certainly does, unless of course you are going on a diving holiday or honeymoon but for all other occasions

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman grips and won’t let go.

The Villandry Restaurant in Great Portland Street proved to be the perfect venue for the book launch of this brilliant new thriller, ‘Something in the Water’ by Catherine Steadman.

It seems that some people have more than their fair share of talent, and yes, I am talking about Catherine Steadman. Not content with carving out a successful television and film career, she has now turned her hand to writing and to continue the metaphor, she has made a pretty good fist of it.

It comes as no surprise therefore, that Steadman has had her first book, ‘Something in the Water’ optioned as a film, or that she has been commissioned to write a second book.

Erin, the protagonist of ‘Something in the Water,’ occasionally breaks the fourth wall, which somehow makes the reader complicit in some of the decisions that she makes. We can understand her thinking and feel her fear as the tension rises.

Moral dilemmas with increasingly severe consequences are presented in such a way that it is impossible not to agree with some of her choices.

So, where is Erin and what is she doing?

Mark and Erin are on the tropical island of Bora Bora, and Erin is convinced that  Mark will keep her safe. And he does, until …  they find something in the water. Something they decide to keep a secret — after all, if they do,  no-one will  be hurt.

Or will they? Their decision triggers a catastrophic chain of events…  and endangers everything precious to them.

Catherine Steadman ramps up the tension page by page, until it is impossible to put the book down. The various threads are drawn together as Erin and her new husband sink deeper into a world of crime they had never known, other than as a casual observer.

‘Something in The Water’ shows that when the going gets tough good people can justify almost anything.

At the very beginning of the book Erin asks if we have ever wondered how long it takes to dig a grave and before I read this I can happily admit that I hadn’t but now…..

If this was her debut novel I for one cannot wait for book two

Something in The Water by Catherine Steadman  in HB, PB, ebook and audio download and CD

The Scarecrows’ Wedding at Leicester Square Theatre, London

“Fun, cute and friendly with a happy ending (spoiler!)”

For those who don’t know the enchanting worlds of Julia Davidson and Axel Scheffler – this play, in itself, is a wonderful introduction. I deeply suspect, though, that the children in the audience were very much aware. The authors came to light with The Gruffalo and since, with Scamp Theatre, have toured the UK with adaptations of the others books Stick Man and Tiddler.

It all starts quite smoothly – the actors entering the auditorium quietly. A few greetings and plenty of smiles. They meet and start to sing a song, working their way towards the stage, gently taking us into the action. As is so common these days, the performers not only play all the characters, but act, sing and play instruments with ease and grace. This performance had the trio of Philippa Hogg, Matthew Burns and Mark Kane.

Utilising props in unusual and imaginative ways, they create the illusion of animals. A toad, a snail [pictured], a cow, a crab – yes, and he’s Spanish! – and those honking geese.

The story is a simple romance between two scarecrows. In order to fulfil their wishes for the wedding that no one will ever forget, both Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay seek specific objects (rings, bells, pink flowers, a shell necklace and white feathers). They meet  a variety of animals who help, including the farmer – Mark Kane, who also plays all of the animals!

There is plenty here for the adults, too. The children are mesmerised and the whole piece rattles along at a cracking pace. The songs lend themselves to traditional country in style, suitably fitting the countryside theme. (Although, I still don’t know how the crab fits in!)

It’s fun, cute and friendly with a happy ending (spoiler!). What’s not to like?

Photography:     Helen Maybanks

Producers:         Scamp Theatre

Director:             Eva Sampson

Designer:           James Button

Music:                Elanor Higgins

Length:                            55 minutes

Ages:                 3+

Venue:               Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BX

Running until:    Sunday 2nd September 2018

(Check website for performance dates and times)

Tickets:              www.leicestersquaretheatre.com – 020 7734 2222

Pricing:               £19.50 adults, £15.50 children. Family tickets available.

Babes in arms go free!

Frost Magazine is interested in anything that keeps children that little bit safer, so we were interested in LittleLife’s new Buggy Blackout. I test drove it on my granddaughter’s pushchair in this VERY hot weather. It worked a treat. Before we tried it she couldn’t rest, seemed far too hot (well, weren’t we all) but once we put it on, she was so much cooler and more cheerful. This is what LittleLife says would happen. I like it when the product does what it says ‘on the box’.

Frost Magazine found the research by Swedish Paediatrician, Dr Svante Norgren frightening. It revealed that covering your child’s pram with a blanket or muslin can lead to stifling temperatures as high as 37^oC inside the buggy, putting your baby at a high risk of overheating or even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The research showed that covering the pram with a thick blanket dramatically increased the temperature from 22^oC to 34^oC and then 37^oC, resulting in a dangerously hot environment for babies who can’t regulate their temperature.  LittleLife’s new Buggy Blackout offers a far safer solution because it’s made from cool and breathable fabric so our grandchild was  not only cool but also protected

Part of LittleLife’s new 2018 Sleep Accessories collection, the Buggy Blackout has a universal design that can be used together with a wide range of pushchairs, buggies and strollers. Ideal for creating a cool and dark environment in which your baby can nap peacefully. As well as blocking 99% of UV rays from reaching your child’s delicate skin, the mesh fabric also offers protection against flying insects and wind chill to keep the child comfortable.

It’s also easy to put on, so Grandma isn’t fiddling in this heat to get started on the walk.

What I did think the research revealed, and needs highlighting is that  when babies become too hot they will become quiet and limp, meaning you may assume they are sleeping peacefully rather than in significant danger.

So with this Buggy Blackout you can check easily because it has a practical design with a zipped double door at the front. The double-layered door means that you can easily check on your little one without disturbing them and one door can be left open and secured at the top of the blackout for greater air circulation when temperatures rise.

I thought it a genuinely important and efficient product. Anything that keeps our children just that little bit safer is priceless.

For convenient storage between uses, the LittleLife Buggy Blackout comes with a handy storage sack.

For more information about the Buggy Blackout or the rest of LittleLife’s Sleep Accessories collection, visit www.littlelife.com.

* https://www.svd.se/varmen-blev-farlig-i-barnvagnen  or  https://www.thelocal.se/20140711/swedes-risk-infants-lives-by-covering-up-prams