Oxford’s most famous detective returns home this month. Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts brings a brand-new stage story to New Theatre Oxford. And, in true Morse style, there’s a mystery to solve in the city centre before curtain up.
The show
A young actress dies on stage mid-performance. DCI Morse and DS Lewis are called, and what begins as a suspicious death spirals into a case with sinister links to Morse’s own past in Oxford, 25 years earlier.
- First-ever stage adaptation of the much-loved ITV detective created by Colin Dexter
- Written for the stage by Alma Cullen, one of the original TV writers (alongside Anthony Minghella and Danny Boyle)
- Directed by Anthony Banks
- Starring Tom Chambers (Father Brown, Strictly Come Dancing) as Inspector Morse
Oxford dates, times & tickets
- Venue: New Theatre Oxford, 24–26 George Street, OX1 2AG
- Run: Tue 20 – Sat 24 January 2026
- Running time: 2 hours (incl. interval) · Age guidance: 12+
- Tickets: from £15.00 (plus £3.95 transaction fee) — book at atgtickets.com
Performance schedule
| Date | Matinee | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 20 Jan | — | 19:30 |
| Wed 21 Jan | 14:30 | 19:30 |
| Thu 22 Jan | 14:30 | 19:30 |
| Fri 23 Jan | — | 19:30 |
| Sat 24 Jan | 14:30 | 19:30 |
Times correct at publication; check the theatre site before you travel.
Cast & creative team
Cast
| Role | Performer |
|---|---|
| Inspector Morse | Tom Chambers |
| Ellen | Teresa Banham |
| Freddy | James Gladdon |
| Justin | Spin Glancy |
| Ensemble | Josh Katembela |
| Lawrence / Paul | Robert Mountford |
| Lewis | Tachia Newall |
| Harriet | Olivia Onyehara |
| Verity | Charlotte Randle |
| Rebecca | Eliza Teale |
Cast subject to change.
Creative Team
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Based on characters by | Colin Dexter |
| Writer | Alma Cullen |
| Director | Anthony Banks |
| Set & Costume Designer | Colin Richmond |
| Lighting Designer | Lizzie Powell |
| Sound Designer | Beth Duke |
| Production Manager | Toby P Darvill (Production Solutions Group) |
| Casting Director | Ginny Schiller CDG |
| Assistant Director | Josh Parr |
Solve a city-centre mystery (free to play)
To celebrate Morse’s Oxford homecoming, New Theatre Oxford has partnered with The Store to create an interactive Inspector Morse window display in the former Boswells window. Study the clues, submit your solution (details on the window), and you could win:
- Two tickets to House of Ghosts + Priority Club Bar access
- One extra-special upgrade: seats in the Director’s Box + a set of Inspector Morse books
- Terms & conditions apply; see the window/theatre site for details.
Good to know
- Getting there: central Oxford, short walk from bus stops and Oxford rail station; nearby parking at Westgate/Gloucester Green (check live availability).
- Access: age guidance 12+; performance lasts ~2 hours incl. interval. Contact the box office for access queries.
Book now
- Tickets and information: atgtickets.com/oxford
- New Theatre Oxford box office: George Street, OX1 2AG
Inspector Morse & Oxford: a brief guide
For nearly four decades, Inspector Morse has been inseparable from Oxford. What began as Colin Dexter’s crime novels (1975–1999) became the long-running ITV series (1987–2000, starring John Thaw) and two beloved spin-offs: Lewis (Kevin Whately) and Endeavour (Shaun Evans), the prequel set in the 1960s. Across the books and screen, Oxford is more than a backdrop, it’s a character: beautiful, cerebral, secretive.
Signature Morse traits
- A love of classical music (especially Wagner), cryptic crosswords, good beer and a lingering melancholy.
- The classic Jaguar Mk2, often glimpsed against college quads and honey-stone streets.
- The partnership with DS (later DI) Lewis, whose grounded outlook keeps Morse honest.
Famous Oxford locations (as seen on screen)
- Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library, Sheldonian Theatre and the colleges lining Broad Street and High Street.
- The Covered Market, Jericho and canal scenes.
- The Randolph’s Morse Bar, a favourite nod for visiting fans.
Ways to experience Morse in Oxford
- Walk the locations: many guided and self-guided trails take in filming spots and book settings.
- Pause for a pint: several central pubs claim Morse connections, ideal pre- or post-show.
- Museums & colleges: check visiting times for the Bodleian and select colleges; exhibition schedules often feature literary Oxford.
House of Ghosts leans into this heritage, returning Morse to streets where secrets hide in plain sight and the past is never quite done with the present.
| Dates (2026) | City | Venue | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 6 – Sat 10 Jan | Chichester | Chichester Festival Theatre | — |
| Tue 13 – Sat 17 Jan | Liverpool | Liverpool Playhouse | — |
| Tue 20 – Sat 24 Jan | Oxford | New Theatre Oxford | Book Oxford |
| Tue 27 – Sat 31 Jan | Cardiff | New Theatre | — |
| Tue 3 – Sat 7 Feb | Newcastle | Theatre Royal | — |
| Tue 10 – Sat 14 Feb | Cambridge | Arts Theatre | — |
| Tue 24 – Sat 28 Feb | Malvern | Malvern Theatres | — |
| Tue 3 – Sat 7 Mar | Edinburgh | Festival Theatre | — |
| Tue 10 – Sat 14 Mar | Guildford | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre | — |
| Tue 17 – Sat 21 Mar | Milton Keynes | Milton Keynes Theatre | — |
| Tue 24 – Sat 28 Mar | Aberdeen | His Majesty’s Theatre | — |
| Tue 31 Mar – Sat 4 Apr | Glasgow | Theatre Royal | — |
| Tue 7 – Sat 11 Apr | Salford | The Lowry | — |
| Tue 14 – Sat 18 Apr | Salisbury | Salisbury Playhouse | — |
Dates/venues correct at publication; check each venue’s site for on-sale times, access info and any updates.
