Presenting another side of a well-established character often provokes fury from fans.

But Sherlock Holmes devotees across the world have embraced Sherlock Holmes The Last Act, a one-man play by writer David Stuart Davies which adds another dimension to the world's greatest fictional detective while staying true to the character's history.

The play's star, Roger Llewellyn, says his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes examines the man's psyche rather than concentrating just on his deductive skills.

Roger says the play, set in 1916, sees Holmes drawn from his two-year retirement in Sussex to attend the funeral of his friend, Dr John Watson.

Holmes returns to Baker Street to resolve the last act' of his epic career to investigate his own mind.

The 61-year-old says: "It's very much the Sherlock Holmes you expect to see, the Sherlock Holmes we all know so well.

But the play opens another door, another dimension on to the character."

Roger, who is producing as well as starring in the play, says Holmes is presented as a real man rather than a thinking machine revealing an unexpectedly passionate and secretive man with a cutting sense of humour.

Roger adds: "The play explores Holmes' feelings about his father, the evil of Moriarty and Irene Adler, the only woman to have beaten Holmes. It also explores Holmes' relationship with women and the depth of his relationship with Watson, which was in no way a homosexual relationship, but was very close."

Sherlock Holmes The Last Act premiered at the Salisbury Playhouse, it won five stars at Edinburgh and was selected as one of the top 10 fringe plays.

The production has toured the world including New York City, Detroit, five weeks in Buffalo and was warmly welcomed in Japan and managed to tour by invitation in Canada.

"Holmes is very popular in Japan. The character has worldwide appeal. Perhaps it has something to do with that image of foggy London.

"But I also think it's something to do with the deductions made by Holmes, which if you subject to analyses don't really hold much water. But I think people like to believe in that kind of deductive reasoning."

Roger won the Shakespeare prize at RADA, has had a long career in regional theatre, television and repeat sessions with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

- Sherlock Holmes The Last Act
The Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street
Friday, May 26, 8pm
£11.50, £7.80 020 8253 1030
Croydon Clocktower