A HEXHAM-BASED, award-winning theatre company is to go on tour.

Théâtre Sans Frontières (TSF) is bringing its latest production Sherlock Holmes: The Speckled Band to stage.

The original adaptation of the popular Sherlock Holmes story, by Arthur Conan Doyle, will premiere at Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, on Tuesday, March 8, before touring nationally.

The Speckled Band is a classic Sherlock Holmes tale. It has, as its heroine, a determined young woman who is maltreated by a manipulative step-father and is one of the few Sherlock Holmes tales with a proactive female presence. It is also an exploration of the status of women in 19th century England.

March 8 marks International Women’s Day.

“We are very pleased to be touring live theatre again and are looking forward to entertaining our audiences with this brand new adaptation of a Sherlock Holmes classic”, said TSF joint artistic director John Cobb.

The play is suitable for young people aged 10 years+.

TSF was founded in 1991 by artistic directors Sarah Kemp and John Cobb who trained in Paris with Philippe Gaulier and Monika Pagneux. The company has toured over 50 multilingual, physical and highly visual theatre productions to arts centres and schools across the UK and abroad. It is supported by Arts Council England, Northumberland County Council, Queen's Hall Arts, and Tynedale Lions.