Here's a fascinating concept. Have the world's most famous fictional detective investigate, and even become embroiled with, one of the most baffling and sinister real-life murder mysteries of all time.

Mix in plenty of enthusiastic acting, some highly-impressive technical wizardry and a great deal of loud and dramatic music. Then rely on one of Britain's most prolific script-writers - a man responsible for such cult shows as TV's The Avengers - to weave a tale of dark and frightening goings-on in Victorian London.

The idea of combining the fictitious world of Sherlock Holmes with the all-too-real horrendous crimes perpetrated by Jack the Ripper has rarely been investigated in fiction, surprising when both are from roughly the same era.

This touring production, staged by talking Scarlet, is the work of Brian Clemens, who wrote scripts for hundreds of TV shows and films in a long career which sadly ended with his passing in January this year.

Sherlock Holmes and the Ripper Murders is quite a family affair, with Clemens' two sons having significant involvement, Samuel in the title role and George as technical director.

In a way, this is predictable fare - with a minimal set which relies a great deal on brooding backdrops of Victorian London in all its squalor projected on to what look like enormous lace curtains, and all the expected sound effects, ranging from jangling street barrel organs to the clip clop of horses' hooves on cobbles.

But, despite some all-too-predictable dialogue, it works to great effect as the ever-changing visual projections swiftly transport the audience from Baker Street, around the seedier parts of the East End, and even to the office of Prime Minister Lord Salisbury.

Clemens has woven in all manner of familiar references to Jack the Ripper theories in an adventure which includes everything from Royalty and the Freemasons to artist Walter Sickert and one of the leading surgeons of his day.

There are some surprises for Sherlock fans. Samuel Clemens plays Holmes less bombastically and with more humanity that some who've donned the deerstalker in the past (he doesn't wear one, by the way) and relies a great deal on the pronouncements of clairvoyant Kate Mead, stylishly played by Lara Lemon. Clemens certainly puts his own stamp on the role, but his Holmes still skillfully combines all the those brilliantly-observed deductions with a incessant desire for the truth.

Watson, played by George Telfer, is also portrayed in a refreshingly different style, though the somewhat down to earth accent, language and humour of the much put upon doctor, may raise a few eyebrows among Holmes enthusiasts.

Andrew Paul and Neil Roberts are convincing as the shady and powerful figures of authority mixed up in the investigations, while Michael Kirk is a disturbingly convincing Netley.

Kim Taylforth (unrecognisable as Mrs Hudson), Katy Dean, Matthew Zilch, Ewan Goddard and Greg Fitch all successfully take on more than one role to add extra dimensions to this riveting piece of theatre, directed by Patric Kearns.

It's not all doom and gloom, despite the subject matter, with elements of carefully-observed humour throughout, though it's somewhat worrying to hear a few in the audience giggling like schoolchildren when some of the more gory aspects of the murders are revealed. A sad sign of the times.

And one little pedantic point. There are two references in the plot to teddy bears - these wouldn't have been around in Victorian times.

So does Holmes solve the Jack the Ripper mystery? That would be telling, but Brian Clemens has certainly introduced some remarkably interesting new ideas to the multitude of theories put forward over the years.

The Theatre Royal, 32 Thames Street, Windsor, West Berkshire, SL4 1PS. Contact the box office on 01753 853888 or online.