Playdio - December: Holmes for Christmas, or What the Dickens

Playdio returns to the Liverpool Everyman Theatre this December with Holmes for Christmas, or What the Dickens, a Yuletide audio playdio romp that puts Sherlock Holmes in a city he doesn't usually haunt. It runs on Tuesday 15 December and Wednesday 23 December, both nights downstairs at the Everyman.

The story is set in 1888 and follows Holmes, Watson and Mrs Hudson during their first Christmas away from London. They've settled into new Liverpool lodgings, and things are quiet until a snow-covered cob of horse manure hits the window, heralding a new conundrum. From there it's ninety minutes of mystery, mischief and seasonal cheer, and the company takes outrageous liberties with the nineteenth century, heard through the sounds of the twenty-first. It's a play that leans into the festive spirit without playing it safe.

On stage are Andrew Schofield, Catherine Rice and Rob Jarvis, with sounds by Alan (Dr) Watson. The audio playdio format means the sound is as much a part of the storytelling as the acting, so Watson's work sits right alongside the three performers. It's a small cast for a ninety-minute show, and the whole thing is recommended for ages 16 and over.

Tickets are £16, and with two dates to choose from — Tuesday 15 December and Wednesday 23 December — you can pick the one that fits your pre-Christmas schedule. Both are downstairs at the Everyman in Liverpool.