Inspector Morse - House of Ghosts
Fans of the popular TV series starring acting royalty John Thaw will feel a sense of nostalgia as the stage is set for another murder mystery in the picturesque city of Oxford. Based on the characters of Colin Dexter, this stage play centres around a theatre group who, as the action starts, are staging a production of Hamlet. We open with a Shakespearean monologue from the famous works before the inevitable happens……we have a corpse and only one man fit for the job of solving murder!
Tom Chambers strides through the auditorium as Inspector Morse, and heads onto stage to commence his investigations. The story, written by Alma Cullen, intertwines friends from Morse’s past and cleverly delivers many twists and turns along the way. Ably assisted by Lewis, played by Tachia Newall the story keeps us entertained and second guessing the whole way through. As the story progresses, we are met with small interludes of the famous Morse theme tune composed by Australian-born Barrington Pheloung, which brings a sense of familiarity to proceedings.
The many scene changes are well orchestrated with various cast members at the forefront meaning that the action remains free flowing and never leaves an awkward gap. Set and costume designer Colin Richmond has been able to facilitate some great spaces, including the theatre where the murder is set, the interview room at the police station and of course, Morse’s favourite watering hole, The Crown.
Tom Chambers as Morse commanded the stage. It’s always easy for a performer to try and mimic a previous performer in a role, and when it’s one as iconic as Morse, Chambers did well to put his own stamp on it and portray the slightly curmudgeonly character with a lighter air about him. There were outstanding performances from Charlotte Randle as Verity, the larger-than-life actress with a drink problem, who added in a few comedic moments and Tachia Newall as Lewis brought a freshness to the character who bounced off Morse’s persona well.
If you’re a fan of Inspector Morse, or maybe one of the many incarnations such as Endeavour or Lewis, then you are 100% going to enjoy this stage production. There is something for everyone, for the crime solving sleuth amongst you, or for that want of classic nostalgia, I would very much recommend a visit to the House of Ghosts.
This show was reviewed on the 6th September 2025 at Birmingham REP where it runs until the 14th September 2025. Tickets available here: Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts | Birmingham Rep
Review written by Emma Rowley
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Photo credit: Johan Persson
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