A text message in the morning telling you where and when Dr. Watson wants to meet you that day – that’s all you get.You get to the appointed place and you are given a copy of the Summertown Sun, which is full of bits of information about Summertown and its shops, but also, prominently displayed on the front page, is a picture of a missing academic - this is obviously going to be the mystery you have to solve.Before you have time to read it all, a rather harassed Dr. Watson asks you to meet him outside and you and your group of about ten people are ready for the adventure.What follows is just over an hour of clue solving and moving around Summertown following these clues. It helps if you know the various characters associated with Sherlock, Inspector Lestrade, for instance and Mrs. Hudson his housekeeper, and it helps if you know Summertown, but it doesn’t really matter if you don’t: someone in the group will. It probably also helps if you know some of the Sherlock stories but again this is not at all essential, just adds a little extra. Someone in your group is bound to be good at anagrams, someone else Roman numerals, another person the Greek alphabet and so on – you fall very quickly into working together to solve the clues.The other people in the group were curious enough to sign up for this so you are bound to find like-minded souls.Watson is always with you, gently guiding you if you seem to be struggling while pretending that he has no idea what is going on.Some shopkeepers are also in on the act: they are amazingly tolerant about being invaded by amateur sleuths.You will also notice some other people wandering around whose clothes single them out, even in Summertown - Mrs. Hudson, for instance, will probably accost you and talk a load of nonsense, much to Watson’s embarrassment, before moving on.
Without giving away the plot, you do get to meet Sherlock in the end and you do meet one of Sherlock’s arch enemies.
What is astonishing is the organisation of this piece of theatre.There are other groups moving around Summertown at the same time but you don’t overlap at all - an amazing feat of programming.You meet the right people at the right time, you don’t bump into any other groups and you end up in the right place at presumably the right time. This is not the first time that Creation have staged an interactive play - their imagination and creativity is wonderful.Creation actors are also always good at engaging with their public so you connect with them in quite a natural way.
Whether or not you are a Sherlock fan, whatever your skill set, this is sheer enjoyment. Don’t forget: when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. Have fun.