Elementary my dear Watson! Immortal words from the pen of Arthur Conan Doyle resound down the centuries as the author’s famous detective inspires numerous adaptations.

While being one of the early works of Conan Doyle, The Sign Of Four is anything but elementary, and in the hands of Blackeyed Theatre intends to inspire, provoke and entertain its Swindon audience.

The adventure story features Luke Barton as Sherlock, Joseph Derrington as Dr Watson and Stephanie Rutherford as Mary Morstan. Nick Lane is the director who adapted the current version of the second Sherlock Holmes novel.

He said: “I don’t think I know anyone over the age of ten who doesn’t know at least the name Sherlock Holmes. He is part of the literary fabric of this country - hugely popular and hugely adaptable - and his cases with Watson are a blueprint for so many crime novels, films, TV shows and theatre. We have approached this adaptation in a stylised way which will appeal to avid fans of the novel as well as those who simply want to come to the theatre and enjoy a rattling good crime story!’’

In this novel, Holmes and Watson are relatively young and their friendship in its infancy, so the director wanted to emphasise that, and the importance of their relationship. He says he did not want to fall into the trap of using Watson as the clown, the buffer to Holmes brilliance.

“Watson is a man with significant medical knowledge. I’d liken him to getting into Oxford to study physics only to find that your lab partner is Stephen Hawking!’’ said Nick.

The mystery begins when Mary Morstan arrives in Baker Street to request help after the disappearance of her father, and the dynamic duo are thrown into a murky underworld of deceit as the plot twists and turns to its ultimate denouement.

Nick said: “The origins of the crime in The Sign Of Four are rooted in the Indian rebellion of 1857; a time when British Colonial rule was brutal, draconian and cruel. Conan Doyle was writing for the Victorian audience who didn’t take such a revisionist view as we do today, but I wanted to give the characters a sense that they at least were aware of what was going on and didn’t like it.’’

Blackeyed Theatre blends recorded and live sound in their productions and Nick says he is excited about the result. In charge of the costumes for this production is Naomi Gibbs who says she is a long term fan of Sherlock Holmes stories and she once lived on the same street, 1 Bush Villas, Southsea, where Arthur Conan Doyle had his practice, and where he wrote The Sign Of The Four. She also named her youngest son after the author.

“Sherlock cuts a fine figure in black whereas Watson dons the more relaxed hues of brown, and Mary Morstan wears a moderately sized bustle for the late 1880s,’’ she said.

Naomi’s biggest challenge was the Indian costumes and Jonathan Small’s peg leg.

“My intention with the use of colour was to help create a clear distinction for the flash back scenes, and to give a feeling of the different flavours between India and Victorian London. I discussed my design ideas about the Jonathan Small character with a prop maker. To compliment his wooden leg, he wears a very worn-in dusty and dirty coat and a tattered scarf.’’

Sherlock Holmes: The Sign Of Four runs from Monday, January 21 to Tuesday, 22 at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon. Tickets are £18.50 - £21 from 01793 524481 or visit https://swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison