CULTURE EDITION
5 minutes with
Holby City and Top Hat star Tom Chambers shares his thoughts as he prepares to play one of crime drama’s most iconic characters
Q. What can people expect when they come to see the play? A. It’s a delicious treat for anyone who is a fan of the Inspector Morse stories and TV show, like I was and have been through the decades. It’s such a fantastic, reliable brand, and this piece of writing by Alma Cullen is fascinating. She was one of the four writers on the very first series that came out in 1987 – the others include Anthony Minghella and Danny Boyle – but this is an original play that only had a small tour in 2010 and was broadcast on the radio a few years later. So, for most people it will be a story that they’ve never seen before. Q. How would you describe Morse as he’s portrayed in the story? A. Given that Alma was one of the original writers, he’s very much the Inspector Morse we know and love. The only difference, I guess, is the fact that there’s a nostalgic element to it because – without giving too much away – it’s about catching up with Morse’s past from 25 years ago, revolving around unrequited love. So, we’re seeing the personal side of Morse as well as the professional one – it’s a play within a play. Q. Is it daunting taking on such an iconic character? A. It is daunting yes, but it’s a thrilling challenge. The thrill for me is in the writing and dialogue – and in the relationship and camaraderie between Morse and Lewis. Q. Why do you think thrillers and murder mysteries are so popular, especially on stage? A. We are curious creatures, aren’t we? We like a puzzle, we like a challenge and the stimulation that goes with that. In the theatre, of course, everyone is in the same space: in the dark, watching the mystery
THESP ALERT! Before playing Morse himself, Chambers was a fan of the stories and television show
which is a Gershwin classic, and in the last couple of years I did Elf The Musical at the Dominion Theatre in the West End, playing the dad. In terms of musicals or plays, I’m honestly just very grateful to be working. There are so many talented people in this industry that it’s a pleasure to be able to work with content you connect with. Q. Speaking of Morse and other crime- solvers you’ve played, do you think you’d make a good sleuth in real life? A. Well, I do love observation and I’m probably quite finicky about where things are, how things are done and how they are put together, but I don’t think I’ve got that kind of intelligence. Instead, I enjoy playing the intelligence that’s been written into these characters. Q. Do you have any pre-show rituals when you’re on tour? A. I always take along a soundbar so I can listen to some music and get into the feeling of the character. When playing Morse, I’m most likely to be listening to some Schubert. Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts is playing at the Arts Theatre Cambridge from 10 to 14 February. Visit artstheatre.co.uk
unfold on stage. You look to your left or right and see that the person next to you is smiling, gasping or rolling their eyes the same as you. It’s very inclusive and it makes you realise that we share many of the same feelings, fears and desires. Q. You came to fame on Holby City, but was working in theatre always part of the plan? A. Actually, I started in theatre. I was in the National Youth Music Theatre and went to Edinburgh and all of the festivals. We did that in the holidays to keep us out of mischief. After that I went to drama school and did a lot of theatre there, but I always wanted to work in television, so when I got Holby City that was my lucky break. Q. You had huge success on stage with Top Hat, but are you leaning more towards plays than musicals now? A. Doing Top Hat was a dream come true. Then I got to do a tour of Crazy for You ,
Theatre is very inclusive and it makes you realise that we share many of the same feelings, fears and desires
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK FEBRUARY 2026 25
Powered by FlippingBook