Preview: Crimes on Centre Court, MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton

Preview: Crimes on Centre Court, MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton

Award-winning producer New Old Friends in association with MAST Mayflower Studios are delighted to announce their UK tour of hilarious tennis-based murder mystery, Crimes on Centre Court, which opens on Thursday 7 September 2023 at MAST Mayflower Studios.

Crimes on Centre Court is based on a story from the award-winning podcast Comedy Whodunnits (#2 in iTunes fiction chart), and toured to great acclaim in 2022.

Expect mirth, murder and mayhem (with a side of tennis) in this deucey treat.

When Lord Knows, the chair of The Whombledun International Invitational Tennis Tournament, dies his son, Hugh, is suspicious.

The police won’t take the case, so Hugh calls in private investigators, Perry & Penny Pink, to get to the bottom of things.

What follows has all the hallmarks of New Old Friends’ brand of hilarity as a cast of four performers play countless characters, with quick-fire changes and quicker wits in a story that will rally your spirits and leave you wanting a second serve-ing of the volley of gags and visual delights.

Crimes on Centre Court is written and directed by Feargus Woods Dunlop, with movement direction from Sam Archer, set design by Caitlin Abbott , costume design by Connie Watson, lighting from George Seal, and sounds from Fred Riding. The show is composed by Musical Director Guy Hughes, and Heather Westwell is Creative Producer.

The play is presented by New Old Friends a touring theatre company whose primary goal it is to make people laugh out loud.

Born from the podcast, the production team have relished the insurmountable challenge of bringing an audio play to the stage and making it, well, surmountable!

The show draws on many reference points – 80s sports movies, ballet, Japanese game shows, and of course other pieces of theatre which inspires them.

“This show was such fun to create,” explains Feargus Dunlop Woods, “Magpie’ing all of the elements we love in theatre and popular culture together to create something which feels really ‘New Old Friends!’.

“We believe in giving people a couple of hours of escapism, to just sit and laugh with strangers, which we think is every bit as profound as more obviously worthy shows.

“The response from our audience when we toured last year was overwhelming, so we’re thrilled to be out again sharing all the nonsense of barber-shop singing hedges, ridiculous murders, a character who we never see more than the top of their head and even some actual tennis on stage.”

Crimes on Centre Court is an ace of a show you’re sure to (fifteen) love.

You won’t see it game set and matched anywhere else.

Tickets for Crimes on Centre Court (7 – 9 September 2023) are on sale at mayflowerstudios.org.uk or 02380 711811.

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