Inspector Morse - House of Ghosts

LIVERPOOL PLAYHOUSE

Curtain Up: 19:30

Curtain Down: 21:45

*** A FAMILIAR INSPECTOR CALLS 4stars ***

*** MORSE IS BACK & LEFT US WANTING MORE - 4stars***

This is a new Morse story, so everyone including the Morse super fans were all gripped with the excitement that was unfolding before us. It’s the first time this beloved inspector had been adapted into a live experience. We liked the audience interaction at the start - and we won’t post any spoilers. There’s just enough layers with plenty of twists and turns thrown in for good measure making this a great whodunnit. You enter the theatre wanting to solve the mystery. Do you can be: Miss Marple, Angela Lansbury, Poirot, (take your pic!) - & try to solve the case. 

There’s been an explosion of crime plays and haunting dramas over the past few years. This thirst for crime thriller at your local theatre is as popular as ever. The sold out show tonight is testimony to that. There’s more to come in 2026 with Midsomer Murders Live, 2:22 A Ghost Story continuing its tour for a third year. Paranormal Activity expecting a UK tour announcement among others. 

TOM CHAMBERS - A familiar Inspector Calls with this portrayal. Tricky to convey the much loved detective - as with all recent stage detective adaptations. He takes the nucleus of John Thaw and creates a successful likeable Morse. With all good lead you need a sidekick - step forward the dutiful character of Lewis played by TACHIA NEWALL. For us he stole the show with an acting masterclass that had us hooked. 

House of Ghosts is just that, with references in the Shakespeare story of hamlet as well as Morse exploring the ghosts of his past. 

ROBERT MOUNTFORD plays the two roles of Lawrence the director of play and Paul who is the university priest . These two characters are poles apart which allows Mountford to carry a different energy for each. It maybe shouldn’t work on paper - but does on stage. 

Verity played by CHARLOTTE RANDLE serves us a classic actress who’s given one last chance to make it big, having missed out on a west end career and turning to drink. Again her portrayal stole every scene she was in. 

The basic scenic elements were provided in part and scenes moved quickly from one to the next, but this flowed well partly due to the hybrid cast. Having a lesser experienced group could have resulted in a more clunkier transitions.

I’m sure there will be further adaptations of morse to come with chambers in hopefully the lead.

Take yourself out into the cold January air and experience this whodunnit in the heart of the city.

MORSE is back & left us wanting more!

Playing at the Liverpool Playhouse until 17th January

Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts - Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres