Rebus: Long Shadows Theatre Royal, Bath
He was probably one of the most popular TV cops in the 90s, and now Ian Rankin’s legendary Rebus has been recreated for the stage. Rebus, the shabby, whisky-drinking and now ageing cop, is in his 60s and retired from the police. Played by Game of Thrones actor Ron Donachie, who stepped into the role after Charles Lawson (best known as Jim Mcdonald in Coronation Street) had to pull out after suffering a mini stroke on stage in Edinburgh, is convincing as the old Scottish cop. Staging is superb, dark, moody, haunting and quite scary. The set is a stark, black room, Rebus’s grotty Edinburgh flat. Voices and figures from two brutal teenage murder cases haunt the mind of the old detective who failed to solve their untimely deaths. It is very well done, sound and music by Garth Mcconaghie really creates the menacing mood of these cold cases which keep re-appearing in the psyche of the old detective. The story, a new work by Ian Rankin and written especially for stage, was adapted by Rona Munro. It is a really engaging new work, with twists and turns and surprises. It is a difficult task to recreate the mood of Rebus with no action on stage, there is no blood or guts, but director Robin Lefevre has captured it cleverly with some brilliant staging and effects. Rebus fans will be pleased to hear the old trio of Rebus, fellow detective Siobhan Clarke (played appealingly by award winning Cathy Tyson) and villain Big Ger Cafferty have been reunited for this new stage piece. Larger than life actor John Stahl is brilliant in the role of the booming Cafferty as the old rivalry between Rebus and the villain is cleverly re-enacted with a twist at the end. It is a very moving piece, very well done and will entertain Rankin fans and newcomers alike. It is a huge role for Ron Donachie, he is hardly ever off stage and he manages to capture the loneliness and isolation of the now retired and hard up old detective. He is no stranger to the role, having starred as the detective on BBC Radio 4, and he also played Inspector Gunner in the original Rebus television series. He will be well known to Theatre Royal audiences having also played Ser Rodrik Cassell in Game of Thrones. He was also in blockbuster film Titanic as the master at arms who clamped Leonardo Dicaprio in irons. He has also starred in Waterloo Road and Taggart, but he brings an emotional new side to his role as Rebus in this stage production. Old, overweight and still whisky dependent, you cannot help but feel for the tired old cop who shows he can still hook a killer. Rebus: Long Shadows is a highly entertaining piece of theatre which brings a newness to an old favourite with some very clever staging. It runs at the Theatre Royal until Saturday. For tickets call 01225 448844 or visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk.