REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Murder at Midnight at the Palace Theatre Westcliff
The Palace Theatre welcomes Original Theatre’s production Murder at Midnight, the brand-new comedy thriller from Torben Betts, as it tours to Southend in October
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
Monday 13 to Saturday 18 October 2025
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Murder at Midnight at the Palace Theatre Westcliff
The Palace Theatre welcomes Original Theatre’s production Murder at Midnight, the brand-new comedy thriller from Torben Betts, as it tours to Southend in October
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
Monday 13 to Saturday 18 October 2025
‘This is turning into a right bloody farce.’
Well that isn’t what I was expecting. It is certainly a murder mystery with a difference. One house, seven suspects and a Murder at Midnight. Midsomer Murders it ain’t. A lot is explained, but just as much remains a mystery.
It isn’t easy to describe this show. The author, Torben Betts, describes it as ‘a comedy murder mystery, a gangster thriller and a darkly funny dissection of family life.’ It is definitely a roller coaster combination of these.
Jonny, an East End gangster returns home to see his dear old mum on New Year’s Eve. He’s planning to go to Barbados with her, and his ditzy girlfriend. Unbeknownst to him, she is off at a Nuns and Vicars’ party, and brings a vicar home for a fling. This vicar is actually an inept, undercover policeman who is trying to bug the place to find out what happened to Johnny’s first wife. As they say, ‘The plot thickens.’
The story becomes more and more complicated with odd people turning up, including a useless burglar dressed as a clown, and a sinister devil waving a crossbow. Murder victims are chopped up in cellars or attacked by rampaging dogs. These are named after songs by Robbie Williams, as Jonny is besotted with him.
All the activities take place on split-level staging which is very effective. Actors are on stage the whole time. They perform scenes in their allotted areas or comings and goings in an out of the main room. This fast-paced thriller is actually a surreal comedy.
Jonny, known as Cylops as he wears an eye patch, is excellently played by Jason Durr as the cockney geezer who lives the high life on his ill-gotten gains from crime. He dominates all the activities, sometimes being jokey and friendly and then revealing his darker side. Providing more comedy is Susie Blake as the poor old mum, who doesn’t seem to know what day it is. However, she is not quite as harmless as you think. There is also a funny scene where she dances the tango with her son to the music from The Scent of a Woman. Although in that film the man was blind, Jonny still has one eye. There was a visible gasp when it is revealed how he lost the other one.
The rest of the cast ably assist with all the comings and goings, providing sharp dialogue and quick fire delivery. Particularly, the girlfriend, Katie McGlynn, and the policeman Max Bowden who have some hilarious scenes together. I also liked the confused, Romanian, carer, Christina played by Iryna Poplavska, who keeps running outside to use her mobile.
The audience were laughing from start to the unexpected finish, when the play took a very dark turn. It ended in complete chaos. Spoiler alert!
Everyone was really enjoying themselves, including a member of the audience that kept imitating the EastEnders’ ‘doof, doof, doof’ dramatic ending, at appropriate moments.
The director, Philip Franks, must be complimented on keeping the action going on all the different parts of the stage. However, some members of the audience found the split-level scenes a little distracting.
The play has elements of Peter Shaffer’s Sleuth and Ira Levin’s Death Trap where the twists and turns keep you on your toes. However, in this case the thriller is also hysterically funny. As Jonny cries out, ‘This is turning into a right bloody farce!’
For a great evening’s entertainment with plenty of laughs and a few surprises along the way, buy your tickets now.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
It isn’t easy to describe this show. The author, Torben Betts, describes it as ‘a comedy murder mystery, a gangster thriller and a darkly funny dissection of family life.’ It is definitely a roller coaster combination of these.
Jonny, an East End gangster returns home to see his dear old mum on New Year’s Eve. He’s planning to go to Barbados with her, and his ditzy girlfriend. Unbeknownst to him, she is off at a Nuns and Vicars’ party, and brings a vicar home for a fling. This vicar is actually an inept, undercover policeman who is trying to bug the place to find out what happened to Johnny’s first wife. As they say, ‘The plot thickens.’
The story becomes more and more complicated with odd people turning up, including a useless burglar dressed as a clown, and a sinister devil waving a crossbow. Murder victims are chopped up in cellars or attacked by rampaging dogs. These are named after songs by Robbie Williams, as Jonny is besotted with him.
All the activities take place on split-level staging which is very effective. Actors are on stage the whole time. They perform scenes in their allotted areas or comings and goings in an out of the main room. This fast-paced thriller is actually a surreal comedy.
Jonny, known as Cylops as he wears an eye patch, is excellently played by Jason Durr as the cockney geezer who lives the high life on his ill-gotten gains from crime. He dominates all the activities, sometimes being jokey and friendly and then revealing his darker side. Providing more comedy is Susie Blake as the poor old mum, who doesn’t seem to know what day it is. However, she is not quite as harmless as you think. There is also a funny scene where she dances the tango with her son to the music from The Scent of a Woman. Although in that film the man was blind, Jonny still has one eye. There was a visible gasp when it is revealed how he lost the other one.
The rest of the cast ably assist with all the comings and goings, providing sharp dialogue and quick fire delivery. Particularly, the girlfriend, Katie McGlynn, and the policeman Max Bowden who have some hilarious scenes together. I also liked the confused, Romanian, carer, Christina played by Iryna Poplavska, who keeps running outside to use her mobile.
The audience were laughing from start to the unexpected finish, when the play took a very dark turn. It ended in complete chaos. Spoiler alert!
Everyone was really enjoying themselves, including a member of the audience that kept imitating the EastEnders’ ‘doof, doof, doof’ dramatic ending, at appropriate moments.
The director, Philip Franks, must be complimented on keeping the action going on all the different parts of the stage. However, some members of the audience found the split-level scenes a little distracting.
The play has elements of Peter Shaffer’s Sleuth and Ira Levin’s Death Trap where the twists and turns keep you on your toes. However, in this case the thriller is also hysterically funny. As Jonny cries out, ‘This is turning into a right bloody farce!’
For a great evening’s entertainment with plenty of laughs and a few surprises along the way, buy your tickets now.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Star Cast for Comedy Thriller
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.
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 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.
Murder at Midnight will play the Palace Theatre, Southend from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 October, with matinees on Thursday & Saturday at 2.30pm. Evening performances at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.palacetheatresouthend.co.uk or by call 0343 0310 0300.
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 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.
Murder at Midnight will play the Palace Theatre, Southend from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 October, with matinees on Thursday & Saturday at 2.30pm. Evening performances at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.palacetheatresouthend.co.uk or by call 0343 0310 0300.
Susie Blake Q&A: ‘Murder at Midnight contains surprises galore’
Murder at Midnight is a follow up to Murder in the Dark, which you starred in last year. What made you want to come back for more?
We had huge fun touring Murder in the Dark and it was a great success. The audience really went with it, which was wonderful. Torben Betts is a brilliant writer, because his dialogue is so unexpected and unpredictable. I read one review that called him a poet, and I know what they mean. So it was an easy decision to come back for the next one. Working with Original Theatre feels a bit like rep in the old days, there’s an immediate feeling of trust. They really look after you.
Could you give us a flavour of the new story?
It’s brand spanking new, not a direct sequel. It’s a comedy-thriller, quite dark, and funnily gruesome. It all takes place in a modern, swish house in Kent, the sort of place that might be called ‘nouveau riche’ when I was a child. It’s owned by a drugs baron called Jonny the Cyclops, who’s surrounded by lots of different and eccentric characters, including mine. There are surprises galore.
Tell us a bit more about her
She’s the mother of Jonny, and she may or may not have dementia. Her son is supporting her, so she has everything she wants, including a carer. But she’s come from extremely humble beginnings. I don’t know what more I can say without giving too much away, but I’m really enjoying getting to know her. She’s a lot of fun to play.
You’re working with a great cast, including Jason Durr, Max Bowden and Katie McGlynn
I couldn’t be happier, they’re a delightful group. And I’m always thrilled to be in the cast with a fellow Coronation Street alumnus. When we first met making the promo, we had to visit a field surrounded by alpacas, and Katie and I just lay on a bench and merrily chatted about Corrie.
Do people still recognise you from Coronation Street?
They do, even though it was 20 years ago. It always surprises me when people recognise me, because I’m not particularly well known, but it’s nice when people have enjoyed my work. I remember the warmth of people in Manchester when I was up there filming it.
How did you start in acting initially?
Well I come from an acting family, and my grandmother [Annette Mills] and mother [Molly Blake] were both on TV when I was growing up, so it wasn’t considered a particularly strange or extraordinary thing to do. I did do some other jobs when I was starting out, working in shops and restaurants and that sort of thing, but I never felt at home. When I’m in a room full of actors, there is something so relaxing and enjoyable about it. They’re very open-minded as people, and I can’t bear close-mindedness.
You’ve worked with some comedy greats, such as Victoria Wood, Russ Abbott and Lee Mack. What makes them such good collaborators?
I wish I could call them collaborators! The thing about great comedians is that they’re often very clever and academically brilliant, whereas I consider myself a more old fashioned jobbing actor. But acting teaches you to be a good listener, so I’ve always been a good foil. Every great comedian needs a reliable straight man. When I first worked with Philip Franks, who’s directing Murder at Midnight, it was on a production of Kafka’s Dick by Alan Bennett. I remember telling him that I wasn’t very educated, and he said “well you bring the talent and I’ll bring the education”. I loved that.
Would you describe theatre as your first love?
Absolutely. I love an audience. That feeling of telling a story from beginning to end, and being in charge for that period of time, which is not something you tend to get on screen. And to top it off, at the end everyone says thank you, which is lovely!
Are you looking forward to getting back out on the road?
The joy of it is that I love exploring different parts of the country armed with my National Trust card and Art Pass. I’ll be carefully planning my itinerary around every venue. I’m 75 now, so in a sense it’s getting physically harder, and my patience is always tested by the railways. When I was younger that was never an issue. But fortunately I’m a Buddhist which helps me stay calm.
When did you become a Buddhist?
When I was about 40, and I really value the support and good advice it provides. I’m very happy, even though I get tired sometimes and I can’t unscrew water bottles. I’m fearless when I’m making friends now, and don’t worry about what people think of me. I also don’t blame other people for how I’m feeling. I think what it’s given me is a common sense attitude towards a lot of things that used to upset me. The major point is that if other people are happy, and we can have dialogue, the world will be a better place.
We had huge fun touring Murder in the Dark and it was a great success. The audience really went with it, which was wonderful. Torben Betts is a brilliant writer, because his dialogue is so unexpected and unpredictable. I read one review that called him a poet, and I know what they mean. So it was an easy decision to come back for the next one. Working with Original Theatre feels a bit like rep in the old days, there’s an immediate feeling of trust. They really look after you.
Could you give us a flavour of the new story?
It’s brand spanking new, not a direct sequel. It’s a comedy-thriller, quite dark, and funnily gruesome. It all takes place in a modern, swish house in Kent, the sort of place that might be called ‘nouveau riche’ when I was a child. It’s owned by a drugs baron called Jonny the Cyclops, who’s surrounded by lots of different and eccentric characters, including mine. There are surprises galore.
Tell us a bit more about her
She’s the mother of Jonny, and she may or may not have dementia. Her son is supporting her, so she has everything she wants, including a carer. But she’s come from extremely humble beginnings. I don’t know what more I can say without giving too much away, but I’m really enjoying getting to know her. She’s a lot of fun to play.
You’re working with a great cast, including Jason Durr, Max Bowden and Katie McGlynn
I couldn’t be happier, they’re a delightful group. And I’m always thrilled to be in the cast with a fellow Coronation Street alumnus. When we first met making the promo, we had to visit a field surrounded by alpacas, and Katie and I just lay on a bench and merrily chatted about Corrie.
Do people still recognise you from Coronation Street?
They do, even though it was 20 years ago. It always surprises me when people recognise me, because I’m not particularly well known, but it’s nice when people have enjoyed my work. I remember the warmth of people in Manchester when I was up there filming it.
How did you start in acting initially?
Well I come from an acting family, and my grandmother [Annette Mills] and mother [Molly Blake] were both on TV when I was growing up, so it wasn’t considered a particularly strange or extraordinary thing to do. I did do some other jobs when I was starting out, working in shops and restaurants and that sort of thing, but I never felt at home. When I’m in a room full of actors, there is something so relaxing and enjoyable about it. They’re very open-minded as people, and I can’t bear close-mindedness.
You’ve worked with some comedy greats, such as Victoria Wood, Russ Abbott and Lee Mack. What makes them such good collaborators?
I wish I could call them collaborators! The thing about great comedians is that they’re often very clever and academically brilliant, whereas I consider myself a more old fashioned jobbing actor. But acting teaches you to be a good listener, so I’ve always been a good foil. Every great comedian needs a reliable straight man. When I first worked with Philip Franks, who’s directing Murder at Midnight, it was on a production of Kafka’s Dick by Alan Bennett. I remember telling him that I wasn’t very educated, and he said “well you bring the talent and I’ll bring the education”. I loved that.
Would you describe theatre as your first love?
Absolutely. I love an audience. That feeling of telling a story from beginning to end, and being in charge for that period of time, which is not something you tend to get on screen. And to top it off, at the end everyone says thank you, which is lovely!
Are you looking forward to getting back out on the road?
The joy of it is that I love exploring different parts of the country armed with my National Trust card and Art Pass. I’ll be carefully planning my itinerary around every venue. I’m 75 now, so in a sense it’s getting physically harder, and my patience is always tested by the railways. When I was younger that was never an issue. But fortunately I’m a Buddhist which helps me stay calm.
When did you become a Buddhist?
When I was about 40, and I really value the support and good advice it provides. I’m very happy, even though I get tired sometimes and I can’t unscrew water bottles. I’m fearless when I’m making friends now, and don’t worry about what people think of me. I also don’t blame other people for how I’m feeling. I think what it’s given me is a common sense attitude towards a lot of things that used to upset me. The major point is that if other people are happy, and we can have dialogue, the world will be a better place.
- by Theo Bosanquet
The show continues:-
Tues 14th Oct to Sat 18th October
Ticket Price
£26 - £45
A transaction fee of up to £3.95 may apply.
Recommended: Age 14+ This production contains strong language, violence and depictions of drug use.
Box Office: 0343 310 0030
EM : https://trafalgartickets.com/palace-theatre-southend/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets
The tour continues:-
Mon 27 Oct - Fri 31 Oct – Eastbourne, Devonshire Park Theatre
November 2025
Tue 4 Nov - Sat 8 Nov Cardiff New Theatre
Tue 18 Nov - Sat 22 Nov- Fareham Live
Tue 25 Nov - Sat 29 Nov- Bromley. Churchill Theatre
February 2026
Tue 24 Feb - Sat 28 Feb – New Brighton, Floral Pavilion Theatre & Blue Lounge
April 2026
Wed 1 Apr - Sat 4 Apr- Darlington Hippodrome
Tues 14th Oct to Sat 18th October
Ticket Price
£26 - £45
A transaction fee of up to £3.95 may apply.
Recommended: Age 14+ This production contains strong language, violence and depictions of drug use.
Box Office: 0343 310 0030
EM : https://trafalgartickets.com/palace-theatre-southend/en-GB/event/play/murder-at-midnight-tickets
The tour continues:-
Mon 27 Oct - Fri 31 Oct – Eastbourne, Devonshire Park Theatre
November 2025
Tue 4 Nov - Sat 8 Nov Cardiff New Theatre
Tue 18 Nov - Sat 22 Nov- Fareham Live
Tue 25 Nov - Sat 29 Nov- Bromley. Churchill Theatre
February 2026
Tue 24 Feb - Sat 28 Feb – New Brighton, Floral Pavilion Theatre & Blue Lounge
April 2026
Wed 1 Apr - Sat 4 Apr- Darlington Hippodrome