Murder at Midnight, Churchill Theatre, Bromley Theatre 25.11.2025
I was looking forward to heading back to the Churchill Theatre, for tonight’s opening of Murder at Midnight, a Comedy Thriller. Now, I love a whodunnit but add a bit of comedy in there – I was intrigued as to what was in store!
It’s New Year’s Eve in a secluded Kent farmhouse where a notorious gangster, Jonny “The Cyclops,” is throwing an unexpected party. The guest list : Jonny’s glamorous but restless wife, his volatile henchman, his unpredictable mother joined by her anxious carer, a suspiciously nervous undercover ‘vicar’, and—unexpectedly—a burglar in a clown mask, who seems to have chosen to break into the worst possible house at the worst possible time. What begins as a tense gathering, quickly turns Chaotic – and deadly! As the story unfolds, it is clear that everyone has something to hide.
From the moment the play starts, you are introduced to much dark humour, in the form of farcical, even dangerous misunderstandings, and moments where humour sits uncomfortably close to real threat. The first act had a great pace to it, with many stories and characters to unfold building tension and suspense as to what would happen next. It was a shame, that this pace slowed down alot during act two, where I felt although comic was still very strong it could have been shortened to keep up with the original format. That being said, I never knew what to expect and felt it did a great reflection on British dark humour that we all love to enjoy.
The leading cast all had this comical timing to perfection! Leading as Robbie Williams loving Jonny was Jason Durr, who excelled at a leading Mob boss and British at that he brought suspense and fear not only to the cast but also towards the audience showing clearly the power he had, though also a soft side and a great comical moments. His mum played by Susie Blake, was just perfect from the moment she hit the stage you just wanted her to stay on the stage, bringing the majority of the comedy to life – we all have a mum/nan like her which made you instantly warm to her, but also not trust her completely.
Stepping into the roll of Lisa was Iryna Poplavska, in her theatrical debut with the play she took the role of Lisa in her stride. Although her accent contrasted with the character’s original accent and shaped the way some lines were delivered, it also enabled her to create a distinctive performance and make the role her own. Her relationship with Max Bowden as Paul was great to watch, their on-stage rapport was compelling; they established a genuine, caring relationship that felt fully developed even though the characters themselves had only recently met. Max was great within the many emotions Paul had to display throughout the play, from the moment he entered the stage he was an instant favourite with the audience, and his comical timing greatly shone throughout.
Along, with the leading cast, stood out some amazing supporting cast, Trainwrek and Russell played by Peter Morton and Callum Balmorth although smaller role they ensured they had their moments and althought thrilling in parts their portrayal of these moments were the comical highlights. To me they gave off a tv show Brassic kind of vibes.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this new production, especially a murder mystery with such a fresh and comical twist. If you’re a fan of British humour—particularly the darker variety—this is definitely a play to catch. Even though the pacing dipped at times, it still managed to keep me entertained, engaged, and constantly guessing. Overall, it was a delight to experience a new take on the genre, delivered with wit, energy and a welcome dose of mischief.
Playing at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley until Saturday 29 November – for all ticket information go here. It then continues in the new year on its UK tour, for all dates and ticket information go here.
