Aylesbury Waterside – until Saturday 29th November 2025
Reviewed by Rachel Clark
3***
Based on an Iconic TV Detective Series
Inspector Morse was a British TV Drama based on novels by Colin Dexter, based in Oxford with Inspector Morse played by the great John Thaw and Lewis played by Kevin Whatley. The series ran from 1987 to 2000 and is still playing on catch up TV. It is an iconic detective series. So I was looking forward to what this show would bring.
The show was brought to the Aylesbury Waterside by Melting Pot and Birmingham Rep, Melting Pot is an independent theatre and film production company that have won Academy Awards and Baftas, and one one their productions was the film The Father starring Anthony Hopkins whilst the Birmingham Rep is well known for the production of The Snowman at London Theatres.
The initial start of the show wasn’t the best, it was set in the theatre at a production of Hamlet, Justin played by Spin Clancy seemed to mumble his first lines and you were then expecting a voice to boom out of him but it didn’t and he didn’t have the most clear of voices nor the volume, I didn’t feel his character was as strong as it could/should have been, throughout the show.
Then there is a death, and Morse (played my Tom Chambers) who was in the audience of Hamlet with his friend Ellen (played by Teresa Banham), gets involved with solving the murder.
Tom Chambers is known for playing many parts including Father Brown, Midsomer Murders, Casualty to name a few and even Strictly Coming Dancing, whist Teresa Banham has also played in many TV and Films to include The Crown, Dr Who and Call the Midwife.
Tom Chambers played Morse well and got some of Morses characteristics right, but you couldn’t help but warm to Lewis played by Tachia Newall, he was very good and a clear voice so you could hear everything said he, and he made you chuckle with the odd bits of Lewis wit, he also has been in many TV shows to include Dr Who and he played the character well , having to put up with Morse.
The one character I did enjoy watching was Verity played exceptionally well by Charlotte Randle another actor from Father Brown and Call the Midwife – in her scene she was slightly drunk at the bar with Morse and Lewis made you smile if not let out a giggle.
Lawrance was played by Josh Katembala and was played well BUT he also played Paul with no different wig other than a change of clothes and glasses and in the beginning I was confused as I had missed some of the comment, as you did have to concentrate to get all the clues and information, I unfortunately I had cougher near me, who seemed to cough at that crucial points.
One very positive thing I will say about the show is you haven’t a clue on who did the crime or crimes even until the very end, some of the audience were discussing and guessing in the interval but I wasn’t aware of anyone who got it right ! and I felt the second half was better than the first half, but this was also due to the volume being slightly increased so you could hear clearer – this was thanks to the feedback of some of the Audience that the theatre quickly acted on and took the feedback and reacted immediately.
The sets were cleverly changed between scenes by the actors themselves, and the set was simple and effective , I liked the way you were at one point on the stage looking into the audience.
Worth seeing if you are a who-dunnit fan.