The game’s afoot for members of Hitchin’s Bancroft Players, as the curtain goes up on their new production tonight.

Sherlock Holmes – The First Adventures will be at the town’s Queen Mother Theatre until Saturday as the new play by artistic director Rory Reynolds enjoys its debut run.

Taking the lead is one of the district’s top talents, Elliott Bunker.

Elliott has built up an enviable reputation over the last 15 years and played Princeton in the company’s successful production of Avenue Q.

He says he has always dreamed of playing Sherlock and has enthusiastically immersed himself in the role.

Playing Dr Watson is Craig Maddox, who is the perfect foil to the charismatic if blunt investigating psychologist as they tackle two cases over the course of the show.

Writer Rory, who admits he has been a fan of Conan-Doyle’s enduring clue-cracking creation since he was 14, said: “I’ve always wanted to bring a version of my hero to the stage and I just love the work that the director Nicki Pope has done to enhance the story.

“I wanted it to be a very modern and still recognisably traditional Holmes, and I’m sure the result will be a whirlwind experience for the audience.”

The story moves deftly between wry comedy, horror and drama so there’s something for just about everyone.

This is a Holmes for the 21st century – fans of the BBC version or the films with Robert Downey Jnr will recognise how Sherlock, Watson and Irene Adler have been drawn.

It’s a fast-paced action thriller where death and danger are everywhere, set in a grim London of 1991, 100 years after the original adventures.

Performances are at 7.45pm each evening and you can book tickets online at www.qmt.org.uk or from the box office on 01462 455166.