Performed: October 2018 at the Bush Theatre, Nimbin.

Renowned for his prowess as both a playwright and screenwriter, Tom Stoppard stands as a titan in the realm of contemporary theatre. Yet Stoppard’s career extends beyond the realms of creation; he once wielded the pen as a discerning theatre critic, offering incisive commentary on the performances and productions of his peers.

In ‘The Real Inspector Hound,’ Stoppard indulges his penchant for meta-theatricality, playfully deconstructing the beloved ‘whodunnit’ genre while lampooning the haughty critics Set against the backdrop of a gripping murder mystery, the play introduces us to Birdboot and Moon, two critics portrayed with wit and panache by Ronnie Barker and Richard Briers during its debut West End run in 1968.

On its release, the producers of Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap,’ complained about spoilers in ‘The Real Inspector Hound’. As the curtains rise though, the audience is thrust into a world where critics occupy their sanctum, blissfully unaware of the theatrical tempest about to unfold before them.

Nimbin Theatre Troupe delivered this one-act play with punch and verve, never allowing things to get too meta, and hamming it up for laughs when required to bring things down to earth. An ambitious performance from a fledging troupe, and it landed well.