The World Premiere production of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Curtain opens in Bath starring Robert Powell (Holby City, The Detectives, Jesus of Nazareth) as the world famous detective and Liza Goddard (The Brothers, Bergerac, Take Three Girls) as Mary Watson. Directed by David Grindley, this brand new thriller is set to appear at the Theatre Royal from Wednesday 25th April to Saturday 5th May.

One of the UK’s favourite actresses, Liza Goddard has performed at Bath’s Theatre Royal in a huge variety of productions, most recently in Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee in 2014 and Relatively Speaking in 2016 – both alongside Robert Powell. Now marking her 19th production at the Theatre Royal, she has also played Bath in Alan Ayckbourn’s Communicating Doors and Life of Riley in 2011, Season’s Greetings in 2004, Life and Beth in 2009 and If I Were You in 2007.

Liza starred in the 2009 Bath pantomime Sleeping Beauty as the Good Fairy; the musical High Society in 2005; the Restoration comedy She Stoops to Conquer in 2008; and the thriller Dangerous Obsession in 2006. Her television work includes cult classics The Brothers, Doctor Who, Bergerac, the Australian series Skippy (The Bush Kangaroo) and Take Three Girls; and the comedies Pig in the Middle, The Upchat Line and Yes Honestly.

She played Mrs Jessop in the children’s series Woof!; narrated Bernard’s Watch for CITV; and has made guest appearances in BBC’s Wild West, CITV’s Out of Sight and ITV’s Midsomer Murders.

What drew you to Sherlock Holmes: The Final Curtain?

The only thing you can ever do is read something and think whether or not you like it and if you can see yourself doing it. I just thought this was a fabulous play and it's always exciting to do a completely new play like this, especially one that is so well-written. Also I'm a mad fan of Sherlock Holmes stories.

What do you feel makes Simon Reade's script unique amongst Sherlock Holmes stories?

What Simon has very cleverly done is woven all sorts of little hints from other Holmes stories into the play. It's very clever indeed and what makes it particularly unique is that at the start of the play Sherlock is retired and has gone to live on the South Coast, where he's keeping bees and is obviously very bored. Then Mary Watson tempts him back with a new case for him to solve.

How would you sum up Mary Watson as she's portrayed in the play?

She's cracking. She's a woman at just the beginning of the 20th century so she's a suffragette and she believes in the power of women, women's rights and so forth. She has a strong sense of feeling for family, plus loyalty and strength. It's a really good, meaty part to play and interesting how the characters are all brought back together – plus, I realise now, very hard to talk about without giving too much away. She has a great inner life, which is always nice. I'm fortunate enough to have done a few Alan Ayckbourn’s where the characters have a huge inner life going on and that's what Mary has in this play.

What are the challenges for you as an actress?

The language is quite tricky. It's very Holmes-ian because Simon has taken a lot of language from the books so it's very rich. My test is learning and performing in this rich language.

Why do you think Holmes and his adventures have proven so enduring character?

The story is a good puzzle and they also give you all the clues, then Holmes works it out from those clues. They're just marvellous stories and great escapism. They employ your brain, which is why we all love detective fiction, isn't it? It's because the old grey cells get a good workout.

Why do you think theatre audiences love a good mystery?

For the reasons I've just mentioned really. You'll find people in the interval going 'Did you suss that?' and talking about clues. It's wonderful to have that shared experience with a mystery. That's why the Agatha Christie’s are always so popular because she's the same – she gives you all the clues and she doesn't cheat, not like when someone goes 'Oh, I had this clue up my sleeve all the time' and it's a clue you haven't been given. That's always disappointing, but the great writers don't do that – they give you all the clues and if you have a great brain like Sherlock Holmes you can work it out for yourself.

Would you be any good at sleuthing in real life?

I read a lot of detective fiction and I can usually work it out, sometimes disappointingly early on. But the really good ones I can't and for me that's signifies a great mystery writer.

How is it working again with Robert Powell, with whom you starred in Single Spies and Relatively Speaking among other shows?

We've worked together a lot and have been friends for a very long time. There's a great feeling of safety in terms of knowing that if something goes wrong or you forget something he'll be fine and deal with it. I feel very secure working with Robert. We can trust each other and we can discuss things without feeling slighted in any way or diminished. You know it's all for the good of the play.

How is it working with director David Grindley again after Single Spies?

That was such a brilliant experience, playing two great parts in Coral Browne and The Queen, and David is a wonderful director. He gives very insightful notes and he's very collaborative, willing to listen to people rather than it being 'Just do as I say'.

What do you most enjoy about touring with a show?

I like going to different places, which I'm quite used to now of course, and appearing in different theatres playing to different audiences. Robert and I like to go out at least one day a week when we're touring together to an exhibition or for a walk in the country to make sure we make the most of where we are. [Laughs] I should do a guide really of things to do in each town.

Do you have any pre- or post-show rituals?

Mostly it's about going to find a real ale pub with Robert – after a show, obviously. But I try not to have any pre-show superstitions or rituals because I think that can hold you back. I used to when I was young but not anymore.

What's the one thing you couldn't be on tour without?

My own pillow because otherwise I think 'Good God, how many heads have been on this?' Also I like a feather and down pillow and they don't often have those anymore.

Given the many varied things you've done, what are you most recognised for when you meet people?

Often it's Give Us A Clue and Bergerac, which is being shown again at the moment so that comes up a lot. It depends how old people are because I've had different successes in different decades and if you're in a particular town it's because they've seen you in the show there, which is lovely.

The tour opens in Bath. Does the Theatre Royal have any significance for you?

I love the Theatre Royal. It's a wonderful theatre with dressing rooms on the same floor as the stage, which is unusual because usually they're miles away! There are lots of lovely places to eat in Bath, it's a beautiful city and I have fabulous digs five minutes' walk from the theatre.

  • Sherlock Holmes: The Final Curtain appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Wednesday 25th April to Saturday 5th May. To purchase tickets contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk