Dynamic duo sink teeth into Hound

Kesselofski and Fiske are giving Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous dog their unique treatment. Su Carroll finds out more

MINCE pies and clotted cream, turkey and stuffing, Christmas pudding and brandy butter – all great Christmas pairings. There's another duo to add to the list – Kesselofski and Fiske.

The two men, who bill themselves as "probably one of Sweden's most popular middle-aged English comedy duos" have been making their annual pilgrimage from their homes in Uppsala to the Drum Theatre Plymouth for 10 years with a succession of their own plays and familiar stories given a special Kesselofski and Fiske twist.

We've had The Sinking of the Titanic, In Bed with Robin Hood, Dracula and Frankenstein as well as Desperate Acts, set in a London pub.

This year they are reviving the popular Arthur Conan Doyle story, aptly set in Dartmoor, The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Paul Kessel and John Fiske, who have worked together since the 1970s, play Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson and the rest of the entire cast in The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Paul says the ploy of doing something new and then something familiar every other year seems to be paying off.

In the decade that K&F have been coming to Plymouth, they have built up a loyal legion of fans. This particular show is one of their favourites, says Paul.

"It's a very happy production and has been from beginning to end. It's also a very good script. It's fun to do, and it's a nice twist to be doing it in Plymouth. We play all the characters and it's exhausting... almost like proper acting! John does most of the quick costume changes and I just play Holmes and Watson."

Paul and John met playing football for opposing theatre companies. A year later they both became members of the Belt and Braces Roadshow Company which toured Sweden where Paul fell in love... and she had a friend.

Now they produce plays and shows in Sweden (where Paul is artistic director of the Regina Theatre) and the UK – although mainly Plymouth now.

"We don't really tour any more... we just do fun gigs," says Paul.

The set for The Hound of the Baskervilles is, as they say in these parts, "a proper job" – made by the Theatre Royal's team.

"They've built us quite a nice set," muses Paul. "They've done a lovely job. We just add the finishing touches but the set helps."

K&F fans are more used to the ad hoc way in which things are performed with the minimum of costumes and props and plenty of interaction with the audience.

They would appreciate Paul's fascination with having a proper set. Paul and John like to keep things simple – like their latest play in Upssala, a lunchtime production of Woody Allen's Death Knocks which lasts just 15 minutes. Their trips to Plymouth just before Christmas are a chance to "get away, to get some perspective".

They recognise familiar faces in the audiences... and with their quirky, jolly humour it's easy to see why every year people keep coming back for some Kesselofski and Fiske as part of their Christmas celebrations.

Kesselofski and Fiske's The Hound of the Baskervilles is at the Drum Theatre Plymouth until December 20. Box office: 01752 267222.