THEATRE: SHERLOCK [ABRIDGED] THE CASE OF THE PORCELAIN TONGUE

Press Release:

SHERLOCK [abridged] THE CASE OF THE PORCELAIN TONGUE

Imagine the entire canon of novels and short stories about Sherlock Holmes.
Now imagine them distilled into one definitive Sherlock Holmes story. And so
you have it: The Case of the Porcelain Tongue.
Holmes and Watson must foil the machinations of the villainous Hodley
Blackscar as he attempts to steal a fabulous, diamond-encrusted porcelain
tongue from his beautiful step-daughter. Along the way, our heroes come up against clues, danger, and dangerous clues. What is the secret of Hodley Blackscar? Who is the mysterious Blackley Hodscar? And will Watson find another wife to add to his collection?

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:
Sherlock (abridged) is the second collaboration between Matthew Woodcock, Peter Davis and producer Frazer Brown, under the Theatre (abridged) banner. Their acclaimed original production, Hamlet (abridged), co-written with Simon Kane (Mitchell and Webb; Shunt’s Money), made its debut at the 2008 Camden Fringe. They return in full force, bringing their frenetic energy and surreal wit to the world’s greatest detective and his lady-loving sidekick.

CAMDEN FRINGE UPSTAIRS AT THE GATEHOUSE 2010:
Producer Frazer Brown has programmed an eclectic group of shows exclusively for the Camden Fringe 2010 at the respected fringe venue Upstairs at the Gatehouse. Dubbed ‘CF10 Upstairs’, the programme includes classic plays and brand new productions, including exclusive world premieres. The first Camden Fringe took place in August 2006 at the Etcetera Theatre and included 57 performances by 22 acts. It has grown steadily since then and last year there were 399 performances by 116 different acts in 4 separate venues. There has been an 80% increase in ticket sales each year since 2007. More details can be found www.camdenfringe.org

ABOUT FRAZER BROWN and RTC:
Founded in 2005 by Cassie Wadsworth and Frazer Brown, RTC prides itself on pioneering new and exciting works as well as supporting rising directors who bring a fresh and modern approach to new writing and established theatre classics. Recent projects have included the West End run of Dorian Gray (starring Matthew James Thomas).

Cast: Peter Davis and Matthew Woodcock
8th–10th August 2010 6pm
Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate
Tickets £7.50
Box Office: www.camdenfringe.org or 08444 77 1000

TV: BBC SHERLOCK AIRS JULY 25

Episode 1 of SHERLOCK airs Sunday, July 25th on BBC One & BBC HD

BBC PRESS RELEASE

Other detectives have cases, Sherlock has adventures...

Benedict Cumberbatch (Small Island, Starter For Ten) and Martin Freeman (The Office, Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy) star in Sherlock, a thrilling, fast-paced update of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detective, set in present-day London, for BBC One.

Sherlock is co-created by the hugely talented partnership of Steven Moffat (Doctor Who, Coupling) and Mark Gatiss (The League Of Gentlemen, Crooked House, Doctor Who) and produced by Sue Vertue (Coupling, The Cup).

The three, 90-minute films, written by Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and Steve Thompson (Whipping It Up, Mutual Friends) are directed by Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin, Gangster No. 1, The Acid House) and Euros Lyn (Doctor Who, Torchwood).

In this unique adaptation, the iconic details from Conan Doyle's original books remain. They live at the same address, are only interested in the bizarre and, somewhere out there, Moriarty is waiting for them.

Sherlock also stars Rupert Graves (God On Trial, Midnight Man) as Detective Inspector Lestrade, Scotland Yard's finest, largely because Sherlock allows him to take credit for his deductions, and Una Stubbs (EastEnders, The Catherine Tate Show) as Mrs Hudson, their long-suffering housekeeper.

Steven Moffat says: "Everything that matters about Holmes and Watson is the same. Conan Doyle's stories were never about frock coats and gas light – they're about brilliant detection, dreadful villains and blood curdling crimes and frankly, to hell with the crinoline.

"Mark and I have been talking about this project for years, on long train rides to Cardiff for Doctor Who. Quite honestly, we'd still be talking about it if Sue Vertue, of Hartswood Films, hadn't sat us down for lunch and got us to work."

Mark Gatiss says: "The fact that Steven, myself and millions of others are still addicted to Conan Doyle's brilliant stories is testament to their indestructibility. 

"They're as vital, lurid, thrilling and wonderful as they ever were. It's a dream come true to be making a new TV series and, in Benedict and Martin, we have the perfect Holmes and Watson for our time."

Sherlock was commissioned by Jay Hunt, Controller of BBC One, and Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning. 

Sherlock is executive produced by Beryl Vertue, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. The BBC executive producer is Bethan Jones.

Sherlock is a Hartswood Films production for BBC Wales, co-produced with Masterpiece. Rebecca Eaton is the executive producer for Masterpiece. 

Sherlock is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat 108, Freeview 50, Sky 143 and Virgin 108.

More info at the BBC PRESS OFFICE.

DVD: SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SHADOW WATCHERS TRAILER

Back in January I posted a press release about Anthony D.P. Mann's Canadian indie film project SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SHADOW WATCHERS.

Synopsis:

The sensational details of a gruesome murder in The Daily Gazette have London in a panic, as a blood-thirsty madman - more vicious than Jack the Ripper - preys upon the city. Of greater concern to Scotland Yard, however, is that the account of the murder was published nearly two hours prior to the crime having been committed! 

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson – the Great Detective and his faithful assistant and chronicler – find themselves challenged with one of their most baffling cases - “The Case of the Woman Who Was Murdered Tomorrow”!

Will an innocent man be sent to the gallows?

How much blood will be shed before a scarred fiend is brought to justice? …And who are the mysterious Shadow Watchers, a coven of ominous figures who orchestrate terror from within the darkness?

Starring Anthony D.P. Mann as Holmes and Terry Wade as Dr. Watson, “Sherlock Holmes and the Shadow Watchers” is a horrifying new adventure, produced with the kind permission of the Conan Doyle Estate*.

DVD / Online Release: 2010

Now here's a trailer for it.






For more info on SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SHADOW WATCHERS visit the official site at sherlockholmesadventures.ca/

COMIC: SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS

SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS is a series of four graphic novel stories to be released by Franklin Watts / EDGE books, a division of Hachette Children’s Books, in March of 2011.

Written by Tony Lee, with art by Dan Boultwood, these four books are said to chronicle the adventures of the Baker Street Irregulars, Holmes’ street urchin aides, during the period of the Great Hiatus when Holmes was believed dead after his fateful encounter with Professor James Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. Stories titles are: 'The Adventure Of The Missing Detective’, ‘The Adventure Of The Phantom Of Drury Lane’, ‘The Adventure Of  The Charge Of  The Old Brigade’ and ‘The Adventure Of The Family Reunion.’ In an effort to place the stories in Canonical context, Sherlockian expert Leslie S. Klinger was brought in as a consultant on the project.

For more information on SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS check out the official blog/site at thebakerstreetirregulars.com

You can also find a couple sample pages at BleedingCool.com.

More info here when available.

DVD: TOM AND JERRY MEET SHERLOCK HOLMES - AUGUST 2010

Warner Brothers, clearly exercising their Sherlock Holmes license, have produced a direct-to-DVD animated film called TOM AND JERRY MEET SHERLOCK HOLMES. Running approx. 44 minutes the film is set for release to DVD on August 24, 2010. To pre-order a copy at Amazon.com click here.

A trailer can be viewed by clicking here.

DVD: 1965 DOUGLAS WILMER SHERLOCK HOLMES SERIES TO DVD SEPTEMBER 2010

According to a BBC America Press release on April 16th, 2010 the BBC and Warner Home Video are planning a release of the 11 surviving complete episodes of the 1965 BBC Television series starring Douglas Wilmer as Sherlock Holmes. Details on the release appear at TVShowsOnDVD.com


The 2-DVD package has a $19.98 SRP, and is expected to include the following:

• Pilot: The Speckled Band
• Episode 1 - The Illustrious Client
• Episode 2 - The Devil's Foot
• Episode 3 - The Copper Beeches
• Episode 4 - The Red-Headed League
• Episode 6 - The Six Napoleons
• Episode 7 - The Man with the Twisted Lip
• Episode 8 - The Beryl Coronet
• Episode 9 - Charles Augustus Milverton
• Epsiode 10 - The Retired Colourman
• Episode 11 - The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

Note: Two episodes of the Douglas Wilmer series in the BBC archives are believed to be incomplete -"The Abbey Grange" and "The Bruce-Partington Plans" - so are not included in this release.

VIRTUAL COLLECTION: 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF SYDNEY PAGET

To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of iconic Sherlock Holmes artist Sydney Paget, most famous for his illustrations in The Strand Magazine, Peggy Perdue, curator of the The Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, Special Collections Department, Toronto Reference Library, Toronto Public Library has assembled a marvelous virtual gallery celebrating Paget and his work.

To view this virtual gallery click here.


Full URL for gallery: http://ve.torontopubliclibrary.ca/sidney_paget/index.html

LIVE GASLIGHT GROTESQUE AUTHOR CHAT AT BITTEN BY BOOKS APRIL 21, 2010

A live real-time online chat with various contributors to GASLIGHT GROTESQUE: NIGHTMARE TALES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES will take place on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at the Bitten By Books site. Simply sign-in, post a question and whichever author or editor is close to hand will answer it. To RSVP please click here.

BOOK: SHERLOCK HOLMES FOR DUMMIES RELEASED

Sherlock Holmes is No Longer a Mystery for Dummies!

You no longer need to be a Sherlock Holmes to discover why the Great Detective has remained popular for over 100 years. It's elementary with Wiley Publishing's brand new Sherlock Holmes for Dummies, by Steven Doyle!

Sherlock Holmes is a classic character that has fascinated readers for decades, and now this indispensable guide explores the enduring detective’s stories like never before. In Sherlock Holmes for Dummies, you'll discover the rich characters, recurring themes, and social context of Arthur Conan Doyle’s
tales; the influence of Holmes on literature and pop culture; and why his stories still offer endless and fascinating new discoveries to readers.

"For over a century, Sherlock Holmes has mesmerized readers,"
comments Steven Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes for Dummies. "Holmes set
the standard for detective fiction, and has inspired hundreds of fan clubs and
literary societies around the world."

Every aspect of the Sherlockian phenomenon is covered in Sherlock Holmes for Dummies. The reader will meet Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the man who created the world’s greatest detective, and learn about Victorian London, where the Holmes stories take place.

There's new insight into the classic novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, as well as the forensics and detective work that made Sherlock Holmes famous. You'll discover why Holmes and Watson are such beloved characters, and experience Sherlock Holmes today, from the ever-expanding network of worldwide fans, to story locations that fans can visit. It’s all covered in Sherlock Holmes for Dummies. Nicholas Meyer, movie director, screen writer, and author of the best-selling The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, says that “Sherlock Holmes for Dummies is essential reading."

Steven Doyle is a member of the Baker Street Irregulars, the legendary
Sherlockian literary society founded in 1934, and has written or edited six
previous books on Sherlock Holmes. He is co-founder of Wessex Press, the world’s premier publisher of books on the Great Detective.

Click here to order from Amazon.com

AUDIO CD: BIG FINISH: HOLMES AND THE RIPPER COMING APRIL

Hot on the heels of their previous Sherlock Holmes audio releases (David Stuart Davies' one-man plays Sherlock Holmes - The Last Act and Sherlock Holmes - The Death and Life), Big Finish is rolling out a full-cast adaptation of Brian Clemens' play Holmes and the Ripper. The cast features Nicholas Briggs (Dr. Who voice of the Daleks) as Sherlock Holmes and Richard Earl as Dr. John H. Watson, alongside India Fisher (Katherine Mead), Lex Shrapnel (Netley),  Samuel Clemens (The Stranger), Matt Addis (Sir William Gull), Ian Brooker (Assistant Commissioner Anderson), Beth Chalmers (Mrs Hudson), David Peart (Lord Salisbury), and John Banks (Saunders). For details on the cast click here.

Synopsis:

 
The grisly serial killings of prostitutes and vulnerable women in Victorian Whitechapel, dubbed by the popular press as the work of ‘Jack the Ripper’ are the talk of London, and from deep within the smog-ridden slums, yet another piercing shriek is heard.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr John H. Watson are drawn into one of the darkest plots ever to shake the foundations of England. There are freemasons, conspiracies and plots at the highest level of the establishment.

But for Holmes, there is a uniquely personal element to this new and terrifying case…

This 2-disc CD set (or download), will be available April, 2010. For further details visit the Big Finish Sherlock Holmes website. Be sure to check out the audio trailer!