As the Hound of the Baskervilles comes to the Torch Theatre stage this October, actor Gareth John Bale will be put through his paces as Sherlock Holmes, both Mr and Mrs Stapleton, Slasher Seldon and a whole host of iconic characters. Sir Henry Baskerville will be played by Rick Yale, a new face at the Torch Theatre and Dr Watson is played by Pembrokeshire’s own Jessica Dyas .... find out more about them below as they share their thoughts with us.

Gareth John Bale: It’s a real pleasure to be back working at the Torch Theatre. I’ve been a regular visitor since the early 2000s and first performed here for the Torch Theatre Company in 2006. You’d be hard pressed to find a more welcoming theatre, and it’s that strong sense of community that makes it such a special place to visit and work.

It’s been lovely catching up with old friends at the theatre and getting to work with new creatives and technicians as well. This version of The Hound of the Baskervilles is a three-hander. While you’ll only see three of us on stage, it takes a whole team behind the scenes to make it happen. I’ve been lucky enough to spend rehearsals in a wonderfully playful rehearsal room alongside two terrific actors, a brilliant director and an eagle-eyed DSM. We’re also supported by an incredible team of creatives and technicians sharing their skills and expertise to help make this a production to remember.

And what an honour it is to play Sherlock Holmes, often described as the most popular and most adapted literary character of all time. After seeing the show, you may feel he’s been adapted rather differently by me as well (apologies in advance to any Basil Rathbone super fans; no apologies at all for the Cumberbatch supporters!). Sherlock isn’t the only character to receive my enthusiastic treatment either. I’ve had great fun getting to grips with some of Arthur Conan Doyle’s other creations, bringing a range of voices—please note, voices, not accents or dialects—to a few familiar characters from this Holmes adventure. It’s been a lot of fun bringing this version to life. Expect plenty of energy, physical comedy, memorable characters and, a fair amount of sweat. If you’re sitting in the front few rows, a poncho might not be the worst idea.

I’m also very grateful to my brother and sister-in-law for letting me stay at their caravan in Broad Haven while I’m here. Even a short time living in this part of Wales is enough to remind you how special it is. Between rehearsals I’ve enjoyed long walks, a bit of relaxation, and the opportunity to learn lines while listening to the sound of the sea. It’s a wonderful place to live and work. How fortunate to have all of this and an incredible theatre too.” 

Rick Yale: “The Hound of the Baskervilles has been a bit of a mad one, to be honest!

I’m playing Sir Henry Baskerville, alongside a few other characters, which means there’s a LOT going on. The pace of the show is absolutely relentless. You’re constantly changing characters, voices, physicality and costumes, sometimes with what feels like about three seconds to remember who you’re supposed to be next.

It’s one of those shows where you genuinely can’t switch off. You’re listening to what’s happening, waiting for your next entrance, trying to remember your lines, getting changed and hoping you haven’t accidentally put the wrong costume on. There’s a lovely bit of chaos to it, and I think that’s what makes it so much fun.

Comedy is probably one of the biggest challenges for me. It’s so easy to think that being funny is just about saying the funny line, but actually the timing, rhythm, reactions and knowing when to do absolutely nothing are what make comedy work. You can rehearse something ten times and then suddenly realise the funniest thing is just looking at someone for half a second longer!

Sir Henry is great fun to play because he’s basically been dropped into the middle of this complete madness and is trying to work out what on earth is going on. He’s got this lovely mix of confidence, confusion and sheer disbelief, which gives me loads to play with.

And then, of course, I get to disappear and come back as someone completely different! I think that’s what I’m enjoying most about this production. It’s fast, silly, physical and slightly bonkers, and it asks a lot from you as an actor. You have to commit to the madness and trust the people around you.

So, if you come and see The Hound of the Baskervilles, you’ll get mystery, murder, comedy, multiple characters and a group of actors running around trying to keep everything together.

What could possibly go wrong?

Jess Dyas: Playing Dr Watson is an absolute dream. There are so many layers to draw upon and play. A woman playing a man, an actor playing a character and all the mishaps and mistakes that are written into the script. This show is fast and furious so learning our lines (and each others lines) has really helped the process move along. No one can drop the ball. I am currently getting confused occasionally and walking round in circles just shouting "Sir Henry".... 😝But It'll be alright on the night!!. The costumes are wonderful (Kevin always does a beautiful job) . They are really helping me get into character. I mean who doesn't love wearing a three piece suit and a bowler hat. We've had a fight and intimacy director (Bethan Eleri) who have helped Chelsey's vision come alive and make sure we are safe when we are fighting or leaning towards the more promiscuous action. (Wink) Chelsey is a brave director and we are all absolutely going for it in this production the sky is the limit! Come along and keep up with mayhem if you dare!!! See you in the auditorium lovely audience!

The Hound of the Baskervilles can be seen on the Torch Theatre stage for a strictly limited run from Wednesday 7 October to Saturday 17 October. BSL Interpreted Performance: 13 October at 7.30pm. Tickets from £18. Phone the Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre.co.uk.