Playwright
Liz Bourne and David Burnfield
Director
Liz Bourne
Overview
It was the 1950s and in Cheriton yet another murder shook its people to the core. It seems everyone had a secret… and the village and police needed your help to solve the mystery.
In May 2007, Cheriton became an infamous hotbed of vice, second only to Midsomer, when a murder took place and some 90 people dressed as 1920s super sleuths cracked the mystery of whodunnit, how and why. All afternoon, our detectives trudged around the village interviewing suspects, supping tea in the incident room (the village hall) and then imbibing in an ale or two over a sumptuous meal served up at the local school whilst they heard the Inspector reveal who was the culprit. Ten years on, and Cheriton Players repeated the event, this time set in the 1950s with a brand new plot (but with just as many twists and turns).
Eight suspects were dotted around the village, from the church to the pub and beyond, and whilst temperatures soared into the 90s, our paying detectives (many of whom came in costume) spent a happy – if hot – afternoon, grilling the suspects to find out whodunnit, how and why.
Vice Admiral Redbeard and undercover copy DS Sue Dunnit ‘of the Yard’, revealed to a barbecue-munching audience the true murderer – Poppy Patch, the grieving widow and a handsome prize of a pair of Deluxe tickets to visit the Concorde experience at Brooklands Museum were won by Michael and Margaret Curtis of Cheriton. Runners up were ‘The Badgers’ from Headley Down who won a £30 voucher for the Pots Inn kindly donated by Ed Ridley, and Rae Kibble from Southampton won the ‘Best Dressed Detective’ prize, a superb bottle of Raimes Sparkling Wine.
A great day was had by all, and a lot of money was raised for the Village Hall purchase & refurb campaign.
The online version of the programme (Crime File) can be found here.
PRODUCER – David Cradduck
The Cast
Poppy Patch – Jan Conway
Babsy Windsor – Rebecca Leadley
Arthur Chippendale – Mike Cornter
Penny Pincher – Pauline Cornter
Alf Wight – Charlie Hellard
Kim Burgess – Angela Ledsham
Chummy Lovegood – Katie Hinds
Lousia Baird (aka DS Sue Dunnit) – Helena Gomm
Vice Admiral Redbeard – David Cradduck
PC Bobby Copper – Paul McTaggart
Photos: Craig Robertson, David Cradduck, Tony Austin