Jason Durr, Susie Blake, Max Bowden and Katie McGlynn
will star in the world premiere of Torben Betts’ comedy thriller
Murder at Midnight
On tour from September 2025
Original Theatre in association with Joshua Beaumont and Huw Allen present Murder at Midnight, the brand-new comedy thriller from Torben Betts following his smash-hit success Murder in the Dark, on tour from September 2025 with a star-studded cast.
Directed by Philip Franks, Murder at Midnight will star stage and screen favourites Jason Durr (Heartbeat,Casualty) as Jonny ‘The Cyclops’, Susie Blake (Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, Coronation Street) as Shirley, Max Bowden (best known for his role as Ben Mitchell in EastEnders) as Paul and Katie McGlynn (Coronation Street, Hollyoaks) as Lisa. They are joined by Callum Balmforth as Russell, Peter Moreton as Trainwreck and Iryna Poplavska as Cristina, with Bella Farr and Andy McLeod as Police Officers/Understudies.
It’s New Year’s Eve in a quiet corner of Kent and a killer is in the house. We meet Jonny ‘The Cyclops’ – the notorious gangster, his glamorous wife, his trigger-happy sidekick, his mum – who’s seeing things, her very jittery carer, plus a vicar who’s hiding something, and a nervous burglar dressed as a clown. Throw in a suitcase full of cash, a stash of deadly weapons, and one infamous unsolved murder…what could possibly go wrong? Join the murder mystery with a difference. One house. Seven suspects…and a murder at midnight.
Written by acclaimed playwright Torben Betts and produced by the award-winning Original Theatre (Birdsong, Murder in the Dark, The Mirror Crack’d), Murder at Midnight is a gripping murder mystery filled with twists, chilling suspense and wickedly dark humour – guaranteed to keep you guessing until the final stroke of midnight.
Murder at Midnight will play Derby Theatre (5-13 September), Birmingham Rep (16-20 September), Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham (23-27 September), Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (30 September-4 October), Malvern Theatres (7-11 October), Palace Theatre, Southend (13-18 October), York Theatre Royal (21-25 October), Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne (27-31 October), New Theatre, Cardiff (4-8 November), Fareham Live (18-22 November) and Churchill Theatre Bromley (25-29 November), followed in 2026 by the Lowry, Salford (19-24 January), The Grand Theatre Blackpool (27-31 January), New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (2-7 February), Royal & Derngate, Northampton (16-21 February), Floral Pavilion New Brighton (23-28 February), Belgrade Theatre Coventry (3-7 March), Salisbury Playhouse (9-14 March), Theatre Royal Bath (16-21 March), and Darlington Hippodrome (31 March-4 April). (Please note: Max Bowden is confirmed for 2025 venues only).
The creative team of Murder at Midnight is Director Philip Franks, Writer Torben Betts, Designer Colin Falconer, Lighting Designer Jason Taylor, Sound Designer and Composer Max Pappenheim, Casting Director Ellie Collyer-Bristow, Associate Director Barney McElholm, Sound Associate Joe Dines, Fight and Intimacy Director Ruth Cooper-Brown for Rc-Annie and Associate Fight Director Carlotta De Gregori for Rc-Annie. The Production Manager is Brian Watson, the Costume Supervisor is Chrissy Maddison and the Props Supervisor is Robyn Hardy.
Murder at Midnight blends razor-sharp wit with chilling suspense, proving that even the best-laid plans can unravel spectacularly when the wrong people are in the wrong place at exactly the wrong time.
Watch the Murder at Midnight trailer on YouTube: https://youtu.be/acPx1VuJ1ws
For more information, and to book tickets, visit: www.murderplay.com
LISTINGS – 2025/2026 TOUR DATES
2025 VENUES
5 – 13 September – Derby Theatre
derbytheatre.co.uk/event/murder-at-midnight
16 – 20 September – Birmingham Rep
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/murder-at-midnight
23 – 27 September – Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
www.everymantheatre.org.uk/shows/murder-at-midnight
30 September – 4 October – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/whats-on/murder-at-midnight
7 – 11 October – Malvern Theatres
malvern-theatres.co.uk/event/murder-at-midnight
13 – 18 October – Palace Theatre, Southend
trafalgartickets.com/palace-theatre-southend/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets
21 – 25 October – York Theatre Royal
www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/murder-at-midnight
27 – 31 October – Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
trafalgartickets.com/eastbourne-theatres-eastbourne/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets
4 – 8 November – New Theatre, Cardifftrafalgartickets.com/new-theatre-cardiff/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets
18 – 22 November – Fareham Live
trafalgartickets.com/fareham-live-fareham/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets
25 – 29 November – Churchill Theatre, Bromley
trafalgartickets.com/churchill-theatre-bromley/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets
2026 VENUES
19 – 24 January – Lowry, Salford
thelowry.com/whats-on/murder-at-midnight-fvyq
27 – 31 January – The Grand Theatre Blackpool
www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/murder-at-midnight
2 – 7 February – New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
www.wolseytheatre.co.uk ON SALE SOON
16 – 21 February – Royal & Derngate, Northampton
royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/murder-at-midnight
23 – 28 February – Floral Pavillion New Brighton
www.floralpavilion.com/event/murder-at-midnight
3 – 7 March – Belgrade Theatre Coventry
www.belgrade.co.uk ON SALE SOON
9 – 14 March – Salisbury Playhouse
www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/category/salisbury-playhouse ON SALE SOON
16 – 21 March – Theatre Royal Bath
www.theatreroyal.org.uk ON SALE SOON
13 March – 4 April – Darlington Hippodrome