Murder at Midnight
Katie McGlynn, Max Bowden, Jason Durr and Peter Moreton in Murder at Midnight. All photos: Pamela Raith Photography
Review by Martine Silkstone
Sometimes in the depths of winter, with its cold, wet, dark nights, the temptation is to simply hunker down and wait for spring. Instead, can I suggest lifting your spirits with an entertaining night out at a warm theatre complete with nice drink, bag of sweets and lots of laughs?
If so, New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich has just the show.
Brought to the stage by Original Theatre, the comedy thriller ‘Murder at Midnight’ opened to a packed house last night and what a fun, clever production it is. Not just a mystery, but also a farce and a drama, with gangsters and friendships and just enough depth to give it solid foundations.
It starts with great writing by Torben Betts of course, along with great direction by Philip Franks. But all credit to a fabulous cast who take all that important groundwork and turn it into something rather magical.
I confess I was concerned at the beginning that it would be a bit flat with flimsy characters and too much exposition, but no, each person is fully-rounded and engaging through the talent of each performer, while creative staging means the narrative moves a-pace with lots of things happening at once. Such fun!
We open at a bloody crime scene where police are collecting evidence of the murder. Then we flash back and watch the story unfold in hilarious, and often rather surprising, ways.
Jason Durr (of Heartbeat and Holby City fame) is commanding as Jonny, a notorious gangster who is currently planning to take his ill-gotten gains and escape to the Caribbean with his girlfriend, Lisa (Katie McGlynn). Meanwhile, while he has been away, said girlfriend has hooked up with someone else at a party and brought him home - a vicar who is not all that he seems (played by Max Bowden, who provides such timing, such physicality and such heart that he stole the show for me).
Then you have the wicked mother (the wicked Susan Blake), the hard-but-soft criminal sidekick (Peter Moreton), the innocent carer (Iryna Poplavska) and the opportunist burglar (Callum Balmforth) - and, just to add more mystery, the case of the missing ex-wife.
It sounds complicated, and that is always a danger with a crime caper like this. I have seen many that have been hard to follow or far too wordy and therefore dull. That is very much NOT the case here! A great story, clearly told, and they have managed to make it very funny into the bargain. In fact, I even heard someone snort with laughter at one point which says it all.
Special mention also for the dramatic effects. I won’t spoil it here but at one point I jumped about three feet into the air!
Twists, turns, Robbie Williams and the Devil with a crossbow - what more could you want?
Yes, whether you need a post-January pick-me-up or simply love a good night out, I recommend getting yourself tickets.
Murder at Midnight is at New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich until 7 February 2026.
FOR SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE