Park Theatre has revealed a star-studded line-up of guest performers for a new murder mystery show, from Gillian Anderson and Damian Lewis to Catherine Tate and Jim Broadbent.
Each night, a different guest will join a rehearsed ensemble cast for a scripted play but they will have attended no rehearsals, read no script and not received any direction. Armed only with a hidden earpiece to receive instructions, they will play the role of the detective to try to solve the crime in real time.
Whodunnit , produced in association with Avalon, will run at Park Theatre in London from 15 to 27 July 2019 before heading up to Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 31 July to 26 August.
As well as Anderson, Lewis, Tate and Broadbent, guests announced to play the inspector’s role for Park Theatre so far include Clive Anderson, John Bishop, Gyles Brandreth, Marcus Brigstocke, Simon Callow, Ronan Keating, Maureen Lipman, Joanna Lumley, Juliet Stevenson, Meera Syal, Tim Vine and Ruby Wax.
Whodunnit , which is having its world premiere, will be narrated by the voices of Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench. More guests are to be announced for the Park Theatre run as well as for Edinburgh.
All guest actors are donating their time to support the production which will raise funds towards keeping Park Theatre inclusive and accessible for all.
Gillian Anderson said: “I’m performing at Park Theatre to help raise funds for the charity. With no public subsidy, they need to fundraise over £250,000 a year just to keep the doors open. “The monies raised from this production’s higher ticket prices will support their core ambition to present accessible theatre over the coming years and to further their work with the local community. A number of £10 day tickets will also be available. I do hope people will come and enjoy, and reap the benefit of supporting this fantastic cause.”
Standard tickets at Park Theatre will cost from £44 to £85 with standing room tickets at £10 released at 10am daily.Tickets for the run at Assembly Roxy in Edinburgh will be priced from £10 upwards.
The line-up is subject to last-minute change, and audiences will discover the identity of the star in each performance only when they appear on stage.
Park Theatre’s artistic director, Jez Bond, said: “We’re very fortunate that the leading actors in our country understand the power and importance of smaller-scale theatres and the challenges they face. “Performing across the run are a mixture of those who’ve supported us since the building was a hard-hat site and those who’ve come to know us more recently. “I am grateful to everyone who has donated their time to help raise vital funds by performing this show – and am thrilled they’re so up for it!”
BOOK TICKETS FOR WHODUNNIT (UNREHEARSED) AT PARK THEATRE
Mark Ludmon has been a journalist for over 20 years, specialising in writing about theatre and the arts as well as bars, pubs and drink. He has been on the theatre judging panel for London’s Olivier Awards and has a masters degree in English literature, specialising in Elizabethan and Jacobean drama. He has an MA in theatre research, criticism and dramaturgy from the University of London’s Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. You can find him tweeting about theatre as @MarkLudmon and writing about theatre at markludmon.com.
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