Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Lipstick, Ketchup and Blood

This event has passed

Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Lipstick, Ketchup and Blood – 1 September to 22 September

Amphitheatre

An Adaptation by Lesley Hart

From the Novel ‘A Study in Scarlet’

By Arthur Conan Doyle

Back by popular demand, Pitlochry Festival Theatre presents this bold adaptation of the 1887 story A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan-Doyle, marking the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, the most famous detective duo in literature.

In a blasted world, two survivors – a doctor and an actor – pass the time by staging their favourite story salvaged from the flames. When tensions arise around casting, more than dead bodies start to surface…

Audiences will be enthralled by this riveting play brought to life in the Amphitheatre, nestled in the Explorers Garden within the shadow of Ben-Y-Vrackie.

Playing in the amphitheatre, our open-air venue within the Explorers Garden.

*Advisory warning – we recommend this play for those aged 10 and over due to strong language.

A co-production with OVO.

A co-production with OVO

Ben Stock

Ben Stock

Ben was born in Bristol and trained at GSA. West End work includes Grease, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dame Edna – The Spectacle, Magical Merlin, Jungle Rumble and Over My Shoulder and work on tour includes A Spoonful Of Sherman, Tomfoolery, ‘Lumiere‘ In Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, ‘Noël Coward’ In Noël and Gertie, Salad Days and Joseph.

At Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Ben was seen in A Chorus Of Disapproval, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Single Spies and as ‘Cornelius’ in Hello Dolly. Other regional work includes roles such as ‘Geoffrey in Stepping Out and ‘Cosmo’ inGlorious in seasons at Oldham, Leeds, Sonning, Perth, Frankfurt and Frinton amongst others.

Ben has appeared on Friday Night Is Music Night for the BBC and presents a weekly show on Box Office Radio. He regularly appears in Music Hall, was in The Tale Of Mr Tumble for Cbeebies and has completed 13 seasons as an ‘Ugly Sister’ in Cinderella.

Ben’s directing work includes Elton John: It’s A Little Bit Funny, Adorable Dora, Tell Me On A Sunday, Me And My Girl and four shows across the Cunard fleet. Musical direction includes Gays The Word, Free As Air, Bye Bye Birdie, Oliver, Salad Days and solo albums for Caroline Sheen and Stephen De Martin.

Ben’s solo cabarets have played to sell-out audiences in London, in New York at 54 Below and across the UK, Far East and on QM2. He has also recorded two solo albums And There Was Music and Ben Stock Sings Noël Coward.
Deirdre Davis

Deirdre Davis

Deirdre graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 1991. She has worked for many theatre companies including the Tron Theatre, Perth Rep and 7:84 Theatre.

Deirdre first worked at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in 1999, when she appeared in The Summertime Is Come with Jimmy Logan and Edith McArthur. Since then, she’s returned to Pitlochry several times appearing in The Magistrate, Heartbreak House, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and The Monarch Of The Glen, Blithe Spirit, Heritage, North and South and was also a part of Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Winter Ensemble 2021.

Deirdre has appeared in consecutive Pitlochry seasons, most recently in Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Lipstick, Ketchup and Blood, Private Lives, Noises Off and Little Women during the Summer 2022 season and 2022 Christmas production Peter Pan & Wendy.

Outwith Pitlochry Festival Theatre, in recent years she has played Nora in Rona Munro’s Bold Girls at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow and spent 14 years playing Eileen Donachie in BBC Scotland’s River City.

Deirdre is delighted to return for Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Summer Season 2023.

Become a Member →

Become a Member

Choose from five membership levels
Priority booking
Discounts on tickets
Advance notice of events
Regular e-newsletters

Become a Member →

Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Lipstick, Ketchup and Blood

Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Lipstick, Ketchup and Blood