Extra Date Announced As Railway Whodunnit Sells Out
Kent & East Sussex Railway
(Copyright text and images, Kent & East Sussex Railway, reproduced with kind permission)
The immersive and interactive Murder Mystery, set on the award-winning railway and performed on board selected evening services, has proved so popular that all four Summer dates have sold out, including the one at the end of August.
However, thanks to the community theatre company that wrote and performs the mystery - the Bexhill Light Operatic & Dramatic Society (BLODS) - and the railway's Visitor Experience Manager, Heather Packham, a new date of Friday 18th September has been added and is now open for bookings.
Packed with intrigue, deception and performed against the atmospheric backdrop of the heritage railway, the specially-written Murder Mystery promises a fully immersive experience where passengers become detectives for the night — questioning suspects, examining evidence and attempting to uncover a killer before the final reveal at the end of the evening.
Passengers can also dine as they detect, with the option of booking a delicious two-course dinner with their tickets, served to them at their seat as they travel through the beautiful Wealden countryside.
Set in the 1950s, before the original closure of the line, the story centres on the murder of a railway signalman, with a cast of colourful characters drawn from local railway and town history. Passengers enjoy the drama as it unfolds aboard the train, with actors moving through carriages to interrogate suspects, drop clues and invite lively debate.
"We've been blown away by the positive response from our audiences so far and we're delighted that BLODS are able to offer us an additional date," says Heather Packham, Visitor Experience Manager for the Kent & East Sussex Railway.
Henri Hayler, Chairman of BLODS, who also appears in the production as DCI Thomas says of the production: "It's a truly immersive experience; you're not just watching a show - you're part of it. Every single character is a genuine suspect, and, unlike a classic murder mystery, we've ensured that the culprit will be different each time it's performed."
Everyone receives a police-style evidence pack, and passengers are encouraged to talk to other passengers and build their own theories. The actors also improvise, responding to interrogation by the passengers.
The final twists are revealed on the return leg of the journey, before the big question is asked at the end of the night: Who killed Harry the Signalman?
Prices start at £47 (Adult) and £25 (Child, 15 years and under) for both performance and travel, with inclusive dining packages priced at £71.50 (Adult) and £32.95 (Child, 15 years and under)
For a daytime theatrical comedy experience, tickets are also now on sale for a fast-paced farce, Off and On, taking place on the 15:40 train from Tenterden to Bodiam on Thursday 20th August.
And a New Production!
It's the 1980s and a junior minister is on board a sleeper train, clutching his resignation speech, with absolutely no idea that his career is about to go spectacularly off the rails. As the journey progresses, a cast of colourful characters become entangled in a hilarious chain of mistaken identities, faked deaths and frantic cover-ups.
Described as 'explosive, outrageous and silly', Off and On is a brand-new farce by Ben Cawood, brought to life as a touring production by Right Track Theatre - a company of early career artists celebrating the glorious chaos of farce with a fresh take.
The dialogue contains mild innuendo so is indicated for adults and children aged at least 12 years and over.
Tickets are priced at £12 for adults and seniors, in addition to the price of Freedom travel tickets. There is no charge for children (aged 15 and under) who also travel for free as part of the railway's Summer holiday Kids Go FREE offer.
Pre-booking is essential for both experiences at: www.kesr.org.uk
