House of Ghosts - The Lowry

THEY’RE big shoes to fill, I heard a man in the audience say to his companion as I headed for an interval drink.

While it was very much the tail end of the conversation, he was referring to John Thaw, no doubt, the iconic actor who played Inspector Morse on our TV screens.

While, unlike many millions of fans, I never watched the series on the small screen. But Tom Chambers makes a hugely credible Morse, bringing out a more vulnerable side to the much loved character in a very watchable performance.

Accompanied as ever by his sidekick Lewis, played by an excellent Tachia Newall, the classical music and real ale loving cop finds himself investigating a mysterious death that takes place during a production of Hamlet.

While there’s no doubting the quality of Alma Cullen’s script, its essential the audience enters the Lowry prepared to listen and concentrate as this is a story with many twists and turns, giving theatregoers a flavour of how difficult a detective’s job must be.

The central character also provides a refreshing alternative to the way policemen are portrayed on the small and the big screen.

Inspector Morse, let’s face it, far more refined than Jack Regan, the cop role that made Thaw famous in The Sweeney.

The twists and turns aren’t the only surprises though. with Chambers and Newall retreatng us to a spectacular party piece post curtain call.

Lasting just a few seconds, it felt like the briefest of nods to Chambers’ Strictly Come Dancing days.

Until April 11, Tickets are available from 0343 208 6000 or www.thelowry,com.

Star rating - 3.5 out of 5.