Whether it is making her Broadway debut as a sheep, playing the bass trombone, or sleuthing with Sherlock Holmes, musical actor Stephanie Rutherford will eagerly embrace the challenge.

In Blackeyed Theatre's production of the Conan Doyle classic, A Sign Of Four, she takes on the role of Mary Morstan and is delighting in the drama that also includes a lot of music.

"Our adaptation by Nick Lane is true to the novel, set in Victorian England in the late 1800s, it focusses on the relationships between Watson and Holmes and Watson and Mary Morstan, who eventually becomes his wife. It has a bit of everything, excitement, action, humour and we all play an instrument to underscore the text which brings a modernesque take on the play,'' said Stephanie.

The actress says her character is incredibly strong and independent having had to basically bring herself up, and win a job as governess.

"She is very humane and modest, a bit of a wit and has power over Watson,'' she said.

The imagery in the novel is recreated on stage through storytelling. "It is narrated by Joe Derrington who plays Watson. We see the foggy, murky streets of London and the heat and constraints of India through Watson's eyes,'' said Stephanie.

A Sign Of Four is heading for Swindon's Wyvern Theatre from January 21 to 22.

The actress says she was first a musician playing in the brass bands of Yorkshire. She then studied as an actor/musician at Rose Bruford and then got into theatre.

She believes that suffering from dyslexia gave her the push towards an artistic career, despite the rest of her family not being theatrical.

"My family doesn't know where it came from, my dad's a policeman, my brother a roofer, although my gran used to take me to art galleries.

"It felt like it was the only thing I was good at, it was a way to express my feelings and I thought acting sounds easy. I was completely wrong! But I enjoy it.''

Like many actors Stephanie has taken other jobs to fund her art, including her first job in Burger King, as part of the stage crew which mean't a lot of mopping, and as a support worker for children with hearing difficulties.

This led to Stephanie's interest in working for both Oily Cart and Bamboozle Theatre Companies.

"They are companies that are a lot more interactive, it is sensory theatre for everybody. In A Pickle, which went to Broadway, was a sort of Winter's Tale though the eyes of a sheep,'' she said.

One of her earliest roles was Down Under in Australia, at the Adelaide Fringe for the Holden Street Theatre.

"It was a modern ensemble piece. It was great we were on the beach living the life of luxury,'' she said.

Following the UK tour of A Sign Of Four, Stephanie says she will be having a good sleep before moving house, nearer to her family, and then in June heading off to China.

"I am learning a few phrases already,'' she said.

The game's afoot in Swindon from January 21 to 22 and tickets are tickets are £18.50 - £21 from 01793 524481 or visit https://swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison