FOLLOWING their successful adaptation of Dickens’ The Old Curiosity Shop, Common Ground are back at the Headgate this weekend.

Based in Ipswich, Common Ground Theatre was founded ten years ago by Pat Whymark and Julian Harries, since when they have been touring steadily, mainly within East Anglia, producing 18 new plays which have received stunning reviews both here and in London.

Written by Pat and Julian from characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle, the company is now out on the road with their annual Christmas show, Sherlock Holmes and the Hooded Lance.

The show sees Julian don the famous deerstalker alongside Dick Mainwaring as Watson in a continuation of a long-standing acting partnership which started with their first Xmas show together in Julian’s The Ghost of The Old Rep, for Eastern Angles Theatre Company.

The cast also includes Common Ground regular Joe Leat, local actor/musician Emily Bennett and Patrick Neyman, who was a memorable villain (John Dumdeedee) in Stoat Hall, Common Ground’s festive show for Eastern Angles last year.

In Sherlock Holmes and the Hooded Lance, Holmes and Watson faces their stiffest challenge yet, in the shape of the Hooded Lance, their newest and deadliest adversary, who is hell bent on spoiling everyone’s Christmas and being really annoying.

Can our intrepid duo save the festive season from the clutches of this dastardly demon. Can they cook his goose, or will he crush their baubles and make prize turkeys of them?

Touring to Woodbridge, Stowmarket, Felixstowe, Aldeburgh, Diss, and Ipswich, where it takes to the New Wolsey Studio stage, Sherlock Holmes and the Hooded Lance is at the Headgate Theatre, Chapel Street North, Colchester, tonight at 7.30pm and 6pm tomorrow. Tickets are £12 and £8 for concessions, available from 01206 366000 or on-line at www.headgatetheatre.co.uk