REVIEW: MURDER, SHE DIDN'T WRITE @ THE DUCHESS THEATRE

🎭 Murder, She Didn't Write

📍 Duchess Theatre, 3-5 Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5LA

🗓 Monday 24th March 2025

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RIOTOUS FUN

What happens when you mix a classic Agatha Christie murder mystery with Cluedo? The answer is MURDER, SHE DIDN'T WRITE and on Monday this comedy improvisation show made its West End debut at the Duchess Theatre as part of a national tour.

As the show opens we're introduced to our sleuth Agatha Crusty who is on the lookout for her trusty sidekick who has disguised themselves as a member of the audience. She launches a deerstalker into the audience and whomever it landed on became unexpectedly part of the show, making the final call on the plot. After suggestions being shouted out by the eager audience it was decided that the murder would happen on a school trip and the weapon was an ever-growing cucumber!

Relying on the audience to decide the story means that the cast have absolutely no idea how the show will go and it is there job to create a coherent story. Scenes are usually played between two or three characters at a time, and Agatha sits at the side of the stage taking her detective notes. She would hilariously pipe up from time to time, questioning the action and forcing the actors into comical capers!

When it's time for someone to be murdered, her sidekick in the audience choses who it will be and the actors are secretly informed. This happens again when the murderer is chosen. Up until this point not even the actors know who the perpetrator is! Then follows a series of flashback scenes featuring each character with the victim, as they drop hints and red herrings as the audience try and determine whodunnit.

This show is so clever and relys on more than just the cast for its success. The technical team seem to decide when each scene ends as they plunge the stage into darkness. This could be after just one line has been spoken! There's also a live pianist who plays a soundtrack to match the story, which in itself is funny.

As the case unfolds in front of us, the actors even reference earlier audience suggestions that were not chosen, and this is always met with huge joy and applause from everyone. Times when the actors laugh or give each other the side eye are all part of the experience.

There is always a danger with improv that scenes can become aimless and stale but this team seems very tight knit and if they feel this happening they are able to divert and recover very quickly.

MURDER, SHE DIDN'T WRITE is laugh out loud funny and I would go and see it again and again. What's great about this show is that it is completely different every time because they rely on the audience imput. There is also a cast of 13 overall which means you never know which cast members are going to be on when you visit, and they all bring something different.

The show is currently touring the UK and returns to the Duchess Theatre on Monday 19th May. Head to the show's website here for all the tour dates and to book tickets.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of Murder, She Didn't Write was gifted by Chloe Nelkin Consulting who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST AT THIS PERFORMANCE:

Lizzy Skrzypiec; Rachael Porter-lane; Peter Baker; Caitlin Campbell; Stephen Clements; Douglas Walkert

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours, including interval

WARNING:

Take a sewing kit in case of splitting sides