Locomotive For Murder is a fun theatrical romp through the tropes of the golden age of detective fiction. With moderate audience participation, no two shows are ever the same. Although, the overall format is what places every performance in the same world.
A talented cast of five actors creates the world of the show by asking selected members of the audience questions about themselves. These are then woven into fiction and used within the performance to create characters, situations, and amusing moments.
If audience participation fills you with dread, don’t worry. No-one is forced to participate here, and everyone who does join in gets to remain seated.
Using the well-known detective story cliché of a murder occurring on a long-distance train journey, the audience also helps to select where the destination of the journey for their specific performance will take them. This can also become relevant to story elements.
With one of the cast of five acting as detective and audience wrangler, the remaining four actors dive into a dressing up box overflowing with bold props and statement accessories, to create the suspects and victim of the case.
Audience participation continues as, having been introduced to all of the various characters, the audience then gets to choose who the murder victim will be. This done, the detective steps in and guides the narrative once more, investigating clues, and asking questions.
From here, there are twists, and turns, and a lot of very funny moments, that demonstrate the improvisational skills of the cast, however absurd the situations their characters keep on getting placed into.
In the finale, the audience gets to choose who they think did the murder. On this occasion, the audience chose incorrectly, accusing an innocent person. But such is the plot of many a golden age detective story. It’s also clear, thanks to a scoreboard, that this is an unusual occurrence, with the audience usually accusing correctly.
Locomotive for Murder is a great blend of popular tropes and top-notch improv skills. Pinch Punch, the improv troupe behind the show, have a number of different productions, and tour throughout the UK. We’d strongly recommend any of their shows for a great evening out, one that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Featured Image Credit: Pinch Punch Improv
