SHERLOCK Holmes needs a new Doctor Watson in York after illness struck actor George Williams.

York company The Flanagan Collective had completed the first week of their six-week run of Sherlock Holmes: A Working Hypothesis in the York Guildhall Council Chamber, with several sold-out performances and positive reviews from press and public alike, when George sadly had to leave the production, forcing the cancellation of shows on Tuesday, Wednesday and tonight.

George, a founding member of the Bristol company Fine Chisel, has returned home to the south west to recuperate. "He has done a fantastic job of playing Dr John Watson opposite Dominic Allen's Holmes and the team wish him all the best for a speedy recovery," says writer Alexander Wright.

So, what do you do when you need a Watson in a hurry? Enter Ed Wren, of the River People and past Flanagan Collective shows, who has headed up to Yorkshire – ironically Ed drives a decommissioned ambulance – to rehearse the role of Watson in only three days.

The game's afoot once more from tomorrow when Ed and the rest of the team resume the run until September 21. Ed is no stranger to York and Yorkshire audiences, having played Scrooge in The Flanagan Collective’s A Christmas Carol and performed in Alexander Wright's folk musical dramas Beulah and Babylon. As chance would have it, he took over the role of Scrooge premiered by Dominic Allen and now finds himself alongside him in Wright's latest premiere.

Just to add to the pressure this week, director Tom Bellerby opened the show, made sure all was running well for a week, then headed on a pre-arranged holiday to Barcelona, so writer Alexander Wright and producer Brian Hook have stepped in to re-rehearse the show in the Council Chamber in his absence. "In this case the show must go on and will go on," says Alexander.

Anyone with a ticket for the cancelled shows is being offered an exchange to a different performance or a refund if they cannot attend later in the run.

Bookings for Sherlock Holmes: A Working Hypothesis can be made on 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk; tickets will be on sale on the door too.