Review: Heartbeat at Buxton Opera House

Few towns could be more suited to host the touring production of police drama Heartbeat than Buxton.

This whimisical look at the Sixties highlights a golden era of village bobbies and eagle-eyed neighbours bound together in a story which is unlikely to give nervous viewers nightmares.

The play stars two of the original television cast members, David Lonsdale as odd-job man David Stockwell and Steven Blakeley as Pc Geoff Younger. Both get a round of applause the minute they appear on stage at the Opera House when the former engages in a spot of fishing and the latter makes his entrance on a bicycle. The pair are then embroiled in a couple of hair-brained schemes including a grave-digging task in return for the handyman teaching the bobby to dance.

But the real drama is in the Aidensfield Arms where glamorous Gina welcomes a stranger with a dodgy Irish accent (Callum O’Neil) and the scene is set for an explosive plotline. Carly Cook gives a lovely performance of the Liverpudlian landlady, backed up by Hollyoaks actor Matt Milburn as handsome bobby Joe.

Heartbeat fans gve the thumbs-up to David Horne’s portrayal of ageing undertaker cum hopeless bartender Bernie Scripps.

The revolving set is as much a star of the show as the performers, transporting the cast from the pub to the countryside to the churchyard.

This leisurely meander back in time, set to a Sixties soundtrack, is as warming as a cup of Yorkshire Tea, as safe as houses and is running at Buxton Opera House until Saturday, June 18.