After two years of "bees and early bedtimes" in his Sussex retreat, Sherlock Holmes returns to London to attend the funeral of his old friend Dr Watson.

And so begins the absorbing one man play, Sherlock Holmes The Last Act, starring Roger Llewellyn.

After the funeral, Holmes is drawn once more to 221b Baker Street, where he remembers their 35 years together. This causes Holmes, alone now, to reflect upon Watson's contribution to his legendary career.

We begin to enter the mind of the real man, the human being behind the cold mask of genius.

We meet a man of passion, dark secrets, and an unexpected cutting sense of humour, who incorporates the fascinating faults and weaknesses of all the great fictional icons.

Vividly dramatised evocations of the stories illustrate the long friendship and give unexpected insights into Holmes' private life and childhood.

Winning rave reviews where it goes the play has now had a West End run and an international tour which visited America, Canada, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore.

It was also chosen as one of the top 10 fringe plays at the Edinburgh Festival.

Sherlock Holmes The Last Act opens at Wimbledon Studio Theatre next week.

November 20, 2001 17:30