Talisman welcomes Arthur and George

Buy photos » Arthur (Graham Underhill) and George (Mike Santos). (s)

A WRONG done to an outsider needs to be put right in Arthur and George at Kenilworth's Talisman Theatre.

The script by David Edgar is adapted from the Booker Prize-winning novel of Julian Barnes.

In 1904, George Edalji (Mike Santos), a humble Anglo-Indian solicitor, was arrested for an attack on a pit-pony at night-time, in a field near the Staffordshire town of Great Wyrley. It seemed to be part of a campaign of terror on the neighbourhood. He was tried, found guilty and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

Arthur Conan Doyle (Graham Underhill) had, by the turn of the century, become one of the most famous men of letters in the country. He was also constantly shadowed by the unspoken presence in every conversation, of his most famous creation, Sherlock Holmes. In 1907, Conan Doyle and Edalji met. The former was so appalled by the facts of the case that he set about to prove Edalji’s innocence.

The case takes many twists and turns with both men realising that reality and legality make the truth far more complicated than anything in a fictional detective story.

The play also describes the circumstances of both men’s lives, including Conan Doyle’s courtship of his second wife, Jean (Rosemary Gowers), and Edalji’s relationship with his sister Maud (Lindsey Gallagher).

The author’s Doctor Watson is played by John Francis, with Bill Davies, Nigel Sharp and Dave Crosfield playing the many supporting parts.

Matthew Salisbury directs, with set design by John Ellam, lighting by Ian Roberts, and Corrina Jacob is stage manager.

The show runs from Monday (June 11) to Saturday June 16, at 7.30pm nightly. Tickets are available from the box-office on 01926 856548 and cost £6 (Monday), £8.00 (Tuesday to Thursday), £8.50 (Friday and Saturday).

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