New 'Morse' play is a high-quality thriller

REVIEW: 'Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts' at New Theatre, Cardiff

Audiences at the New Theatre this week are transported back to Oxford in 1987 - for the first stage production of Inspector Morse.

House of Ghosts, which began its Cardiff run tonight (Tuesday), opens with a production of Hamlet at the Oxford Playhouse.

All is going well in this play within a play, until the promising young actress playing Ophelia collapses and dies on stage.

Amid the panic and distress, help is at hand in the shape of DCI Morse, who happens to be in the audience - on a date, of sorts, with a friend from his undergraduate days, who's now a professor and the historical adviser for this Shakespeare production.

As Morse begins his investigation, we discover this is not his only connection to these fatal events. Have rivalries and jealousies from 25 years before resurfaced with deadly consequences?

House of Ghosts is a worthy stage debut for Colin Dexter's famous detective. Not only does it do a great job of capturing the wit, charm, and nostalgia of the long-running TV series, it's an ingenious whodunnit in its own right.

Written by the late Alma Cullen, who scripted several episodes of the show, it stars the ever-reliable Tom Chambers as Morse - mimicking just enough of John Thaw's style to make the character recognisable, but never lapsing anywhere near an impersonation.

The supporting cast are equally impressive: led by Tachia Newall as Morse's sidekick, Lewis, with Teresa Banham, James Gladdon, Spin Glancy, Robert Mountford, Olivia Onyehara, Charlotte Randle, Eliza Teale, and Josh Katembela.

Director Anthony Banks drives the action along at a lively pace, so there's never a dull moment, and Colin Richmond does brilliant work with the '80s costumes (and the theatrical ones) as well as the fairly minimalist set design, which cleverly whizzes us around a range of locations.

Lighting (Lizzie Powell) and sound (Beth Duke) design also contribute to a very enjoyable production.

Hailed by Radio Times as ‘the greatest British crime series of all time’, the TV series of Morse was always going to be a hard act to follow, but this play doesn't disappoint.

Whether you're a diehard fan of the show or you just enjoy a high quality crime thriller, this is one for you.

Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts continues at the New Theatre until Saturday (31 January). You can book tickets here or from the box office on 0343 310 0041.

Review by Andy Weltch

Photos by Johan Persson

We received free tickets for this performance in exchange for an honest review