Free subscription via iTunes | Free subscription via RSS
The Long Man and The Grace Chalice
In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories, Dr Watson drops tantalising hints about other cases of the great detective. Here we attempt to reconstruct two of these unpublished exploits.In “The Long Man”, while Holmes investigates an insurance fraud a brilliant police detective pursues a Macedonian gun-runner. Then an inoffensive archaeologist is murdered… RAFE McGREGOR’s story is dramatised by M.J. ELLIOTT.
“The Grace Chalice” tells how Sherlock Holmes solves the mysterious theft of a priceless mediaeval cup. ROGER JOHNSON has adapted his own story.
JIM CROZIER and DAVE HAWKES return as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, with JESSE POWIS, M.J. ELLIOTT, VINCE WEBB, MARK PRESTON, BRIAN ADRIAN and DANNY SEGETH.
The plays were directed by Roger Johnson and recorded for Hosiprog Productions by David Booth and John Rhodes at Pig Pen Studio.
“The Long Man” is copyright © 2011 by Rafe McGregor & M J Elliott. “The Grace Chalice” is copyright © 2011 by Roger Johnson. The recorded production is copyright © 2011 by the Old Court Radio Theatre Company.
Listen to The Long Man >> | Listen to The Grace Chalice >>
Sherlock Holmes, or The Strange Case of Miss Alice Faulkner
While rewriting Conan Doyle’s script, the American actor William Gillette famously asked, “May I marry Holmes?” The author replied, “You may marry or murder, or do what you like with him!” The resulting play was first staged in 1899 and has lasted for more than a century. Gillette himself recorded an abridged version in 1935, for the Lux Radio Theater. Three years later Orson Welles adapted the play as an hour-long drama for the Mercury Theater on the Air, in which he took the leading role, giving a remarkable impersonation of Gillette.The play wasn’t heard on British radio until 1953, when the classic partnership of Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley took the roles of Holmes and Watson in an adaptation by Raymond Raikes, with Frederick Valk as Professor Moriarty. Although two good audio productions were made in California in recent years, each with a distinguished British actor in the lead – Martin Jarvis and David Warner – the play hasn’t been heard on British radio since the 1950s.
In ROGER JOHNSON’s new adaptation for the Old Court Radio Theatre Company, JIM CROZIER and DAVE HAWKES return as Holmes and Watson – roles that they have made very much their own – with CYRIL BAGSHAW as Professor Moriarty. The supporting cast comprises; BETH WALTERS, SIMON THOMAS, KATHERINE TOKLEY, MARK PRESTON, VINCE WEBB, LINDSAY LLOYD, IVOR JEVONS, JESSE POWIS, M.J. ELLIOTT and BRIAN ADRIAN.
The play was directed by Roger Johnson and recorded for Hosiprog Productions by David Booth and John Rhodes at Pig Pen Studio.
Listen to Part One >> | Listen to Part Two >>
The Man with the Watches
Five years after the supposed death of Sherlock Holmes at the hands of his arch-enemy Professor Moriarty, The Strand Magazine published two apparently unrelated mystery stories, each quoting an un-named criminal investigator. Devotees have long debated the identity of this person: was he Sherlock Holmes or not? In this ingenious new play, M.J. ELLIOTT’s dramatisation tells how Holmes and Watson did investigate the mysterious murder on the Rugby express. The play was directed by ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
The Lost Special
Five years after the supposed death of Sherlock Holmes at the hands of his arch-enemy Professor Moriarty, The Strand Magazine published two apparently unrelated mystery stories, each quoting an un-named criminal investigator. Devotees have long debated the identity of this person: was he Sherlock Holmes or not? In this ingenious new play, M.J. ELLIOTT’s dramatisation tells how Holmes and Watson did investigate the baffling disappearance of a special train. The play was directed by ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
The Gloria Scott
Sherlock Holmes told his friend Watson that the case of “The Gloria Scott” was the beginning of his career as a professional detective. It occurred during his student days, and it concerned theft, murder and blackmail. The story was dramatised by M.J. ELLIOTT and directed by ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
Wisteria Lodge
The complex problem of “Wisteria Lodge” gave him plenty of scope. And set him in friendly rivalry with Inspector Baynes of the Surrey Constabulary, the only police official who was unarguably his equal as a detective. The story was dramatised by M.J. ELLIOTT and directed by ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
The Mazarin Stone
This story comes from The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, the last of the nine books about the great detective to be written by his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. “The Mazarin Stone” was based on Conan Doyle’s own stage play, The Crown Diamond. The story was dramatised by M.J. ELLIOTT and directed by ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
The Veiled Lodger
This story also comes from The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes. In “The Veiled Lodger” Homes and Watson are listeners with us to the story of a past crime – but what a story it is! Devotees will recognise elements from Conan Doyle’s apocryphal tale “The Field Bazaar”. The story was dramatised by M.J. ELLIOTT and directed by ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
The Yellow Face
Before BBC Radio 4’s dramatisation of the complete Sherlock Holmes Canon, The Yellow Face had never been adapted for radio. Until now! Now this most elusive adventure is available in a witty and exciting new dramatisation by M J ELLIOTT. The director was ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
The Three Students
The Three Students was broadcast in the early 1950s on the Light Programme, in Children’s Hour, but no recordings exist. And that’s all. Until now! Now this most elusive adventure is available in a witty and exciting new dramatisation by M J ELLIOTT. The director was ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
The Beryl Coronet
From the first volume of Dr Watson’s chronicles, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, “The Beryl Coronet” takes Holmes and Watson into a world of high society and high finance. Not for the first time, or the last, they must deal with the indiscretions of a truly illustrious client. The story was dramatised by CHRIS DRAKE and directed by ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
The Speckled Band
“The Speckled Band” is an altogether darker business – a tale of madness, violence and gothic suspense. Dr Grimesby Roylott (wonderful name!) is one of the classic villains, and the story has consistently ranked among the all-time favourites since it was first published in The Strand Magazine in 1891. The story was dramatised by CHRIS DRAKE and directed by ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
Shoscombe Old Place
Holmes’s investigation in the 1890’s of the events at Shoscombe Old Place – the eccentric behaviour of Sir Robert Norberton and the sinister mystery of the haunted crypt – was triumphantly successful. The story was dramatised by M.J. ELLIOTT and directed by ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
The Five Orange Pips
The case of “The Five Orange Pips”, from the late 1880s, was one of Sherlock Holmes’ rare failures: he identified the doom that stalked the Openshaw family, but could not prevent the murder of his client. The story was dramatised by M.J. ELLIOTT and directed by ROGER JOHNSON.
Listen Now >>
All the Old Court Radio Theatre Company recordings can be listened to or downloaded free of charge.
Free subscription via iTunes | Free subscription via RSS
Please provide feedback to Matthew elliot mtthwelliott@aol.com