Murder Mystery Group

This group formed in 2012 as a splinter group from the Panto Group to put on a murder mystery show (Soap Suds) in the September following a panto production of Puss in Boots. It was the brain child of Helen Sadler who continues to be the Major Domo, producing and sometimes writing the scripts.

So far, the group has put on these productions:

2012 Soapsuds by Sue Morris
2013 The Mystery of Talbot Manor by Gary Simpson
2014 A Fete Worse than Death by Gary Simpson
2015 Return to Talbot Manor by Gary Simpson; A Mafia Wedding by Paul Falcone
2016 A Blow to the Head by Gary Simpson
2017 The Sound of M---rder by Andy Hawkes
2018 Death by Radio by Paul Falcone
2019 The Final Act by Andy Hawkes
2021 First Class Death A murder mystery on Zoom by Helen Sadler.

2021 November: Two's Company by Helen Sadler. Performed at Holy Trinity Church.
2022 What? The Butler Saw? by Helen Sadler
2023 Taught a Lesson by Gemma Simpson
2024 Allotted Time by Helen Sadler

This is how most of the productions run:

Weekly rehearsals, currently held in The Navigation Inn, Mill Lane, Barrow on Soar for around six weeks
A dress rehearsal at Humphrey Perkins
The production starting at 7.30pm.

The evening starts off with the cast of 8 in character, meeting and greeting the audience and guiding them to tables of about 8; the enactment of the murder (about 30 minutes); from 2024 we are experimenting with the audience bringing their own Glyndebourne style picnic, giving them the chance to discuss the gruesome murder of a hapless member of cast over their shared picnic. During the meal further evidence will be distributed. This is followed by a question and answer session where each table can ask a suspect one question; after a short break, and the notorious secret question, there is another opportunity to ask questions of the suspects. The Who, How and Why has to be agreed in the table and the answer sheets collected. Then the identity of the murderer is revealed followed by an impassioned explanation by the murderer and presentation of prizes for the table or tables who got it most nearly correct.

If you would like to be considered for a role, either to act or to help in a myriad of other ways, please phone Helen on 01509 621050 or Ceri Fairbrother via Facebook.