ONE of television's most loved detectives to coming to a Weymouth stage.

Inspector Morse mystery will be investigating a murder at Weymouth Pavilion on April 30.

House of Ghosts, by Alma Cullen, is an Inspector Morse mystery inspired by the original novels of Colin Dexter.

It will see the eponymous sleuth, as made famous by the late great John Thaw, return to the stage in this original play by the author of several episodes of the original TV series.

With an intriguing incarnation of the unassuming, stoically-reserved, often grumpy Inspector Morse, House of Ghosts takes its cue firmly from theatrical history.

The play opens with a performance from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

A young professional actress playing Ophelia dies suddenly mid-performance and Inspector Morse is immediately on the scene, having been in the audience.

The stage is cordoned off, and becomes a fully-fledged murder scene.

The plot delves deep into Morse's student-life in Oxford, re-uniting him with ghosts from his past, giving the audience an insight into the events which shaped the inspector’s later life.

Cast in the title role is Nigel Fairs as Chief Inspector Morse – Fairs’ credits include Oscar Wilde in In Extremis (Kean Productions), Frank Churchill in Emma, Noel Coward in Two Flats and a Sharp (both Classic Reaction) and Christopher Wren in The Mousetrap (West End).

The role of Detective Sergeant Lewis will be played by Ivan Wilkinson. House of Ghosts’ large number of characters will be played by Paul Cleveland, Lawrence Ward, Andrew Nance, Ian Archdeacon, Claire Bibby, Helen Fullerton and Sarah Gain.

House of Ghosts director is award-winning Adam Morley.

Producer Claire Bibby said: “House of Ghosts is the only Inspector Morse story written for the stage, so I’m thrilled to be granted the opportunity to tour it.

"This production is set in the 1980s, Morse is in his late forties and is still developing his persona and traits at this stage of his life.

"Morse in the play presents a bridge between the characters in the new TV series of Endeavour and the long established Morse series with the late John Thaw that people know so well.”

Contact Weymouth Pavilion for tickets.