THE ADVENTURE OF THE GRACE CHALICE

THE ADVENTURE OF THE GRACE CHALICE

Old Court Radio Company in High Chelmer

11.05.12
[photograph of an earlier performance: M J Elliott]

the original recording can be downloaded here

This year's Altogether Now Festival includes three drama productions: Bank Job, from the quirky pen of actor James Christie, and a revised revival of Writtle Cards' Always Odds On, written by Nick Caton.

And to open the Festival, this brand new Sherlock Holmes mystery, adapted by Roger Johnson from his own short story. From our mystery city centre location we look out to see, not Baker Street but, through century-old limes, the Fleece Inn and St Mary's Church.

This is the story of one Henry Staunton [Johnson], patron of the arts and inveterate gambler, and his lost golden chalice. Unwisely perhaps, he calls in, not Vince Webb's plodding Lestrade, but Holmes [Jim Crozier] and his trusty Watson [Dave Hawkes], whose sharp minds are quickly on the tracks of the thief.

It's a witty, convincing radio script, opening with the great detective "in the dumps" as Watson reads out titbits from The Thunderer. The cavernous venue has just the right acoustic for the grisly scene in Stoke Newington mortuary, and the atmosphere is suitably enhanced by the sound of the Sherlock violin ...