Review Inspector Morse at Birmingham Rep: iconic hero returns for stage debut in 'intricate murder mystery'

Colin Dexter’s iconic detective has become a beloved national favourite in TV shows Inspector Morse and Endeavour, along with the many books, so translating him to stage was going to be no easy task. That’s probably why it’s taken so long for the complex, intelligent cop to make his theatre debut, but now he’s back and bristling as much as ever.

Birmingham Rep has given it a shot, producing this new stage murder mystery with Melting Pot for a highly-anticipated UK theatre tour - but is it a shot in the dark or have they cracked the case? Tom Chambers is the actor brave enough to take on the lead role, so eponymous with John Thaw.

I caught Inspector Morse House Of Ghosts at Birmingham Rep, where it runs until Sunday September 14 before touring nationally into 2026. Opening with a long scene from Hamlet, I started to wonder if I’d come to the wrong performance, but stick with it as suddenly there’s a death on stage.

Out of nowhere, Morse takes control as a member of the audience and it feels like being caught up in a real 999 emergency. It’s a clever start to what is a suitably intricate murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns. After this precurser, the familiar theme tune starts playing along with beeps of morse code and you can’t help feel nostalgic and comforted at welcoming back this old friend.

Writer Alma Cullen, who died in 2021, wrote four episodes of the original Morse and also this stage play that was created for BBC Radio 4. Converted to stage for the first time, it’s been set in the 1980s when Morse is slightly younger than the original TV series and older than in Endeavour.

Alma knew Morse well and has managed to weave in all his well-known traits in a character-driven tale that’s thankfully faithful to Dexter’s creation. There’s regular visits to the pub, opera music, Morse’s grouchiness and even his keen eye for the ladies.

It’s a personal story for Morse as he investigates a death at a theatre involving a host of suspicious characters he was at university with. That includes Ellen, who he always had a crush on, and Verity, who tried to seduce him in his college days, when they were all in a student production of Hamlet together.

There’s also Morse’s arch nemesis Lawrence directing the play now as he did back then, along with a handful of younger suspects. So the game is afoot in true Oxford style.

By Morse’s side is the steadfast Lewis, played by an impressive Tachia Newall. Although he makes the sidekick sound more Scouse than Geordie, Newall’s charming ease on stage makes Lewis just as likeable, plus he has a good rapport with Chambers’ Morse. It makes this new production work so well.

While Chambers is no Thaw, he gives it a good go and is believable as the perceptive, astutely intelligent yet flawed detective. The only out-of-character moment in the script is when Morse gets overly aggressive in a police interview and it veers into American cop territory.

For most of the time, he’s the gentle loner, hugging a pint or glass of wine, somewhat haunted by his own ghosts of a past university production.

Of the many intriguing suspects, Robert Mountford stands out as the uncooperative Lawrence, naturally grabbing all the attention as he gives the mean character larger than life bravado. He’s an experienced pair of hands on stage, but there is a well-rounded cast for this slick production.

Director Anthony Banks, who was behind the tour of Dial M For Murder that also starred Chambers as the protagonist. keeps the action and momentum flowing and there’s never a dull scene. If any of you have seen the many Peter James murder mysteries brought to stage, this new Inspector Morse is crafted in a similar fashion, with constant movement between the cops and suspects.

The staging has a polished edge and, albeit sparse, sets are wheeled on with lovely details, like the retro coffee machine with plastic cups at the police station and vintage phones. The backdrop in a church is particularly impressive despite using minimal props.

It’s all very Eighties with knowing jokes about computers of the future, although the fashions could have maybe been more dated and fun. The dashing figure of Chambers in a fitted suit looks slightly too contemporary and sharp for the era, but he does make a lead that you can get behind and I could see him doing more in this Morse stage series.

This new Inspector Morse on stage is thoroughly satisfying and murder mystery fans, like myself, will lap it up. It’s a gritty case, fascinating suspects and has a suitably intricate plot in the vein of Dexter. It worked for Endeavour and Lewis and now there’s a new spin-off for beloved Morse. Welcome back old friend.

How to get tickets for Inspector Morse play

Inspector Morse House of Ghosts has an age guidance of 12+ runs at Birmingham Rep until September 14 with tickets from £25 from the Birmingham Rep website. The UK tour seen at the website here includes Malvern Theatres, Nottingham, Cheltenham, Oxford, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and The Lowry in Salford, where the tour ends in April 2026.

Running time is around 2hours and 20 minutes including an interval.