Theatre and television favourite Robert Powell visits the dark side for his latest role as Sherlock Holmes
©Nobby Clark ©Nobby Clark Photographer
Sherlock Holmes/Robert Powell
Actor Robert Powell is recognised the world over for his award-winning portrayal of Christ in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1975 epic Jesus of Nazareth (in fact on a recent visit to Porto in Portugal, I noted that Robert’s image as Jesus adorned many a street corner along with portraits of saints and the Virgin Mary). He followed that with a turn as the dashing Richard Hannay in the ITV adaptation of The 39 Steps; a bumbling copper alongside his lifelong friend Jasper Carrott in the hilarious sitcom The Detectives; and a reformed cocaine-addicted nurse in medical soap Holby City. He has also appeared to great acclaim on stage in plays such as Charles III.
Now, the actor is taking on the most famous detective of all, Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes – The Final Curtain which arrives at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud theatre this month.
“I have played a lot of detectives in my time,” he recalls. “And along with Poirot, there seems to be an unending interest in Holmes. He is very enjoyable to play. He’s sort of preposterous at every level and you have to be careful not to tip over into parody.”
In this latest play, we find Holmes in retirement, living on the south coast and keeping bees. But typically, things are not how they first appear.
©Nobby Clark ©Nobby Clark Photographer
Sherlock Holmes/Robert Powell
“He is not your typical pensioner,” says Robert. “His drug addiction is almost crippling and he is in a state of absolute paranoia, believing his enemies are circling.” Luckily, he is shaken from his self-absorption by Mrs Watson (played by Liza Goddard), the wife of his late friend Dr Watson, who needs Holmes’s help to find her son’s killer.
“It’s quite a chilling play, and not the Holmes we have seen in Hollywood,” he adds, referring to the 2009 film starring Robert Downey Jr.
Born in Salford in 1944, Robert first got a taste for performing at school and starred in several Children’s Hour radio plays. He joined a repertory company while studying at the Manchester College of Commerce before landing small roles in movies such as The Great Train Robbery and The Italian Job alongside Michael Caine. The actor, now 73, says he is delighted to still be doing the job he loves.
“Some of my friends are surprised I am still going,” he laughs. “And touring is hard work. And yes, being on stage means there remains a degree of stress in my life – I have to remember lines and it’s quite physical work. But as an actor you don’t retire. I may pull back a little, but I will always leave the door open.”
Sherlock Holmes: The Final Curtain runs from Jun 18-23. For tickets, visit: yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
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