‘Your past will find you out’ could have been the motto of Inspector Morse: House Of Ghosts, playing at the Churchill Theatre from 8th to 11th October.
The play perfectly captures the mood of Colin Dexter’s creation, beloved of numerous television viewers for many years, led by Tom Chambers as the beer-loving detective with rarefied tastes and an even rarer talent for picking apart complex cases.
Morse was in a bad mood all evening. Little change there from TV, one might say. He did have a stage chock full of liars to contend with, as his ill-advised outing to see ‘Hamlet’ at an Oxford theatre turned sour.
The aforementioned strangers to the truth included the odious theatre director Laurence (Paul Mountford), ambitious actor Freddy (James Claddon), alcoholic Verity (Charlotte Rundle, another stand-out), drug-enhanced actor Justin (Spin Glancy) who really was suffering for his art in playing Hamlet, Eliza Teale as Rebecca, and Teresa Banham as Emma.
Tachia Newell as Lewis showed the humour and intelligence required for any Morse sidekick to last with the irascible investigator for more than five minutes, and a fondness for steak and kidney pie with benefits.
All of the elements of the production were very well-tuned – music, scenery, costume, script, direction, lighting and acting.
You will note that this review steers clear of revealing almost any of the plot of the House Of Ghosts. After all, ghosts are best when they come as a surprise. A double ovation from the audience did not.
Tickets here.
Darren and Jacqui Weale
8th October 2025
Bromley Buzz 