Watson: The Final Problem

by Bert Coules and Tim Marriott

Based on the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

There is a shadow in the gutters, a spider's web of poisonous intrigue plagues the city and Dr John Watson must face his greatest ever challenge.

It is 1894. Watson is alone. Sherlock Holmes and his beloved Mary are both gone. London seethes with false reports and rumour. It is time to set the record straight.

So Watson tells his story. A tale of long buried secrets, betrayal and death, where the intrepid detectives must finally face their nemesis; Moriarty... The Napoleon of Crime. But as Watson takes us across Europe to the Reichenbach Falls, is the game really over?

In this brand new play, Tim Marriott (TV's Brittas Empire) reenacts the last Sherlock Holmes adventure from the perspective of unsung hero, Dr John Watson.

WATSON was a Sell-Out show at Edinburgh Festival Fringe '21 achieving multiple 5 reviews:"5. Utterly brilliant. A great story, wonderfully performed" - Edinburgh Review

"Wonderfully acted and mesmerising to watch" - Reviews Hub

"A grippingly fine display of the art of the monologue from one of its outstanding exponents" - Broadway Baby

Watson: The Final Problem is created in collaboration with Bert Coules, the BBC's Head Writer on the Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, who says "Watson is often overlooked, but is more than Conan Doyle's alter ego. Deeply affected by the effects of war in Afghanistan and appalled by dishonesty and falsehood, he is a remarkably contemporary character to bring to life on stage."

Smokescreen Productions was founded by Tim Marriott in 2017, travelling to festivals around the world with acclaimed PTSD play Shell Shock (Best Solo Show, Adelaide) and Holocaust themed Mengele (Lustrum Award, Edinburgh, NY Encore).

90s sitcom star Tim played Gavin in seven seasons of The Brittas Empire and British Airman, Tigger Thompson, in Allo, Allo, before moving into teaching. He returned to the stage in 2018, committed to producing educational and thematic drama.