
Portsmouth’s very first Holmes Fest is coming up on 28th June, celebrating the world’s most famous consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, and their relationship to the city. Holmes Fest host and local writer, Matt Wingett, reports.
Wednesday 28th June sees the very first Holmes Fest to be held in the town where Sherlock Holmes was created. Writers, musicians and Victorian duellists will descend on the Square Tower, Portsmouth, to pay homage not only to the super-sleuth, but also to his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, who arrived in Southsea in 1882 and began his writing career in the slack period between seeing patients in his GP’s practice in Elm Grove.
The evening of storytelling will include comedy tales about Doyle and Holmes, spiritualist tales and investigations into Victorian crimes by internationally published writers including Diana Bretherick, William Sutton, Zella Compton, as well as brilliant comedy writers Charlotte Comley, and Anthony Noon , as well as writers Amanda Garrie, Christine Lawrence and local actor Alan Morris, and will be hosted by writer Matt Wingett. Music hall songs will be performed by Matt Parsons and Janet Ayers, and there will be projection of Victorian and Edwardian film footage from Dr Lighthouse.
Audience members are invited to join in the celebration by donning costume – and there will be a prize for the best-dressed Victorian. Further fun will be added by displays of marksmanship with nerf guns by the Gosport Steampunk Society and Victorian duelling will also be demonstrated. Prepare to settle old scores with polystyrene bullets.
Drinks and light refreshment will be available, with doors open at 6.30 pm and performance beginning at 7.00 pm.
Tickets are selling fast, and advance booking is strongly advised. Click here to get your tickets.
The performers look forward to meeting you!
Looking forward to this.