Sherlock Holmes – The Valley of Fear at the New Theatre Cardiff

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Sherlock Holmes The Valley of Fear Review

I love the theatre! However, I hate to admit since COVID; I haven’t been as much as I used to. It’s a habit I’ve got out of rather than because there is a lack of touring shows in Cardiff. However, a few weeks ago, I got my toe back in the water by attending the opening night of Steel Magnolias at The New Theatre Cardiff. The live theatre bug is back, and last night I watched Sherlock Holmes and The Valley of Fear.

The Game is Afoot

I’m a massive fan of mysteries, and however much I like to think, “I’ve solved it”, I never quite catch on. The Valley of Fear is the Blackeyed Theatre Company’s adaption from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s thrilling final Sherlock Holmes book. Also known as the elegant last adventure of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Luke Barton stars as the master detective looking to solve a murder in a manor house. A coded letter sent to 221B Baker Street sets Holmes and Watson on a journey. Following the trail of bewildering clues, Holmes begins to unearth a darker, wider web of corruption from a secret society and his arch nemesis, Professor Moriarty.

There is Nothing More Deceptive than an Obvious Fact

The chemistry between Holmes and Watson and the long-suffering Mrs Hudson is crucial to telling the story. The three actors play off each other perfectly in this adaptation. My only gripe is that Luke Barton is too young to play Sherlock Holmes. In the book, he’s around 60 years old. He does capture the quintessential Sherlock look and quirky mannerisms, just without the pipe and deer hunter. For me, Joseph Derrington – Dr Watson – stole the show effortlessly switching from storytelling to character.

The actors take on at least one other part in the story, changing their looks and accents. They do a great job of this, and it is easy to follow the story. In fact, the ensemble of 5 carries off 20 roles. Gavin Mallot plays six roles, ranging from the Scottish laid-back Inspector MacDonald to the volatile Black Jack McGinty.

Cast

Luke Barton Sherlock Holmes

Joseph Derrington Doctor John Watson

Blake Kubena Jack McMurdo / Detective White-Mason

Gavin Molloy Jack McGinty / Cecil Barker / Inspector McDonald / Moriarty

Alice Osmanski Ettie Shafter / Mrs Hudson / Ivy Douglas / Captain Marvin

All other parts played by members of the cast

The sparse, sombre, snug set design clearly evokes the Victorian era and the story’s sinister undertones. As well as travelling to different parts of England, some of the story is also based in the Pennsylvanian Vermissa Valley. As well as switching locations, it also changes decades focusing on John Douglas – the squire of Birlstone Manor in Kent. Only at the end the true connection of the parallel stories is revealed. As in any good murder mystery!

Sherlock Holmes The Valley of Fear Summary

It is a long one! The running time is 150 minutes, plus the interval.

The characterisation is brilliant, with intense dialogue, believable acting and atmospheric folk songs. There’s gentle humour, laugh-out-loud moments, and clever fight choreography. The action is tense, dramatic and sometimes violent – a thrilling evening that will keep you on the edge of your seats.

Book your tickets

If you can, grab a ticket, you won’t be disappointed. The play runs until 26 May 2023, with tickets starting from £17 per person.

Where is the New Theatre Cardiff? Address: Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3LN

Cardiff Tickets

How to get there

Transport for Wales now offers Multiflex, which gives you 12 journeys for the same price as 5 returns. Who doesn’t want to save money? With stops in Taffs Well, Radyr, Whitchurch, Llandaff North, Cathays, Cardiff Bay, plus two in the city centre. Queen Street is less than a 5-minute walk to The New Theatre, and Cardiff Central is about a 15-minute walk.

Pre-book your parking and save!

There is an NCP car park across the road from The New Theatre. NCP Park Pass is an easy way to save money on parking. Not only do you access special parking deals, but you also don’t need to remember where you put the ticket collected at the barrier – mine always gets lost in the handbag. As payment is contact-free and cashless, you do it on your phone.

You can always pre-book your parking online and save money if that’s not your thing. Find a car park, choose your date and time, enter your details and make your payment. Once you’ve booked your parking online, you will receive a booking confirmation email detailing your booking and how to enter and exit the car park.

Eat Out Before Watching the Play

Cardiff is a foodie’s delight. From the quality of the produce to the level of cooking, at both the casual and cheap eats, Cardiff is staking a serious claim to being one of the most exciting places to eat in the UK.

Get 50% off food in Cardiff

We all need to refuel and rehydrate. If you love food and drink, do you have a Tastecard? You get 50% off the food bill or two meals for the price of one. There are over six thousand participating restaurants across the UK. Get a 90-day free trial here:

Places to Drink in Cardiff

You’re always close to the best bars in Cardiff city centre. If you’d like to have a drink before or after the show, there’s plenty of places nearby to choose from.

Stay the night

If you know when you’d like to travel, try to book in advance and as soon as possible. Prices tend to rise the closer you get to the travel date. However, there is a vast array to accommodate all budgets.

easyHotel Cardiff

The easyHotel Cardiff is a 10-minute walk from the theatre. It has double rooms (with or without a window), accessible bedrooms and twin rooms. Found a short walk behind Cardiff Queen Street train station, the budget hotel has en-suite bathrooms, heated rooms in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. WiFi is free; pay and display and multi-storey car parks are nearby.

Radisson Cardiff

The Radisson Blue Hotel Cardiff is in the city centre. The 4-star hotel has smart TVs in the bedrooms, private bathrooms with complimentary toiletries, laptop-compatible safes, and limited onsite parking.

Dog friendly hotels in Cardiff

Your perfect dog-friendly escape in Cardiff awaits! Before I had my rescue dog, Ivan, I didn’t think Cardiff was very dog friendly. How wrong was I? The dog friendly hotels in Cardiff include national chain hotels, budget brands, pubs and country houses.

The Copthorne

The Copthorne, part of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, is a traditional 4-star hotel in Cardiff that is ideally located between the city centre and the coast of Barry Island. Ideal for business travellers, couples or families, it is a perfect base. You can expect free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool and modern in-room amenities. Book early and save up to 20% off:

The surrounding areas

Don’t be afraid of staying out of central Cardiff, either. Penarth, Barry, Caerphilly, Pontypridd, and Merthyr Tydfil are the surrounding areas connected by regular buses and trains. You can also plan with LastMinute.com. Stay at great hotels at a fraction of the price.

Cottages and Houses

The award-winning business, Sykes Cottages, has properties across the UK, and the ones near Cardiff are beautiful. From cosy lodges with traditional woodburning stoves to contemporary accommodation with a hot tub. With all the amenities you could need, including parking, WiFi and many dog-friendly places, check out Sykes Holiday Cottages.

Disclaimer: I was invited by Trafalgar Theatres to see Sherlock Holmes and The Valley of Fear at the New Theatre Cardiff in return for a review of my experience. My feedback is my honest, unbiased review.

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