SHERLOCK Holmes — The Death and Life is coming to The Haymarket in Basingstoke at 7.30pm on Thursday next week.

In this wry tale of murder, mystery and the occult, the world’s greatest detective refuses to leave the stage.

Arthur Conan Doyle tires of his intolerably arrogant Sherlock Holmes and invents the malevolent Professor Moriarty to dispose of him.

But the author’s dangerous strategy, combined with his passion for raising the spirits of the dead, has rather more bizarre and dramatic consequences than he bargains for.

This fantasy is a light-hearted illustration of the battle between an author’s intentions and the rebellious personalities and ambitions of his literary character creations.

Detective Sherlock Holmes is played by Roger Llewellyn, who has appeared in Kavanagh QC and Inspector Morse.

He also has extensive credits in Shakespearian productions in Stratford and London, and has appeared several times in the West End.

His previous show, Sherlock Holmes — The Last Act, played to full houses all over the country.

Tickets cost £12 while students and under-16s pay £8.

Call the Anvil Arts box office on 01256 844244 or visit www.anvilarts.org.uk or fax 01256 366900 for more details.