Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced the complete cast for the world premiere of Sherlock Holmes, a fresh adaptation by Joel Horwood. The production promises a new take on the famous detective’s adventures, set in 1890 London.

The new play Sherlock Holmes, written by Joel Horwood and directed by Sean Holmes, will debut at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. The narrative follows Holmes and Dr Watson as they unravel a case surrounding a mysterious woman and a stolen jewel, with scenes set across London and along the River Thames.

Joshua James takes on the role of Sherlock Holmes, with Jyuddah Jaymes playing Dr Watson. The ensemble cast includes Christopher Akrill as Sholto and Judge, Andre Antonio as Pockets and Referee, and Will Brown as Small and Lestrade. Other notable cast members are Paolo Guidi, Benjamin Harrold, Nadi Kemp-Sayfi, and Marcia Lecky.

The creative team features Sean Holmes as director, with Grace Smart designing the set and co-costumes, alongside Lisa Aitken who also oversees costume supervision. Lighting is by Ryan Day, sound by Elena Peña, and movement direction from Charlotte Broom. Music is composed by Jherek Bischoff.

Additional contributors include Stuart Burt on casting and Enric Ortuno providing fight direction. Carole Hancock manages wigs, hair and make-up, while voice and dialect coaching is provided by Hazel Holder and Gurkiran Kaur. Ingrid Mackinnon supports the production’s intimacy work.

The play is presented with the agreement of the Conan Doyle Estate and is scheduled to run from Saturday 2 May to Saturday 6 June 2026 at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

This new adaptation adds to the long tradition of Sherlock Holmes on stage, underscoring the character’s enduring appeal and the continued interest in revisiting Conan Doyle’s iconic detective in contemporary theatre settings.