Murder
at Midnight
Darlington
Hippodrome
Wednesday
1 - Saturday 4 April 2026
A star-studded production of Murder
at Midnight, the brand-new comedy thriller from acclaimed playwright Torben
Betts, comes to Darlington Hippodrome this April as part of an extensive UK
tour. Following his smash-hit success with Murder in the Dark, Betts
returns with another gripping murder mystery filled with twists, chilling
suspense, and wickedly dark humour.
Directed by Philip Franks and
produced by award-winning Original Theatre in association with Joshua Beaumont
and Huw Allen, this production brings together an exceptional cast of stage and
screen favourites. Jason Durr (Heartbeat, Casualty) stars as Jonny “The Cyclops”,
alongside Susie Blake (Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, Coronation Street) as
Shirley, Max Bowden (EastEnders) as Paul, and Katie McGlynn (Coronation Street,
Hollyoaks) as Lisa.
A Deadly New Year’s Eve
It’s New Year’s Eve in a quiet
corner of Kent, and a killer is in the house. Set in a modern, swish mansion,
the kind of place that might be called “nouveau riche”, the story unfolds in
the home of Jonny “The Cyclops”, a notorious gangster with a deadly reputation.
The mansion is filled with an
eclectic and dangerous cast of characters: Jonny’s glamorous girlfriend Lisa,
his trigger-happy sidekick, his mother Shirley who’s seeing things, her very
jittery carer, a vicar hiding secrets, and a nervous burglar dressed as a
clown. Throw in a suitcase full of cash, a stash of deadly weapons, a bunch of
ravenous dogs, a chainsaw, and one infamous unsolved murder, and you have all
the ingredients for a spectacular night of mayhem.
As Jason Durr puts it: “If
Tarantino was to write a play, this would be it. It’s a heady blend, full of
twists and turns, dark humour, and chilling suspense. I can guarantee it will
keep the audience guessing almost until the curtain comes down”
Meet the Cast
Jason Durr as Jonny “The
Cyclops”
Jason Durr brings his
considerable stage and screen experience to the role of Jonny “The Cyclops”,
describing him as “such a colourful character”, who lives in luxury while his
past catches up with him fast. “He’s a one-eyed drug dealer, pig farmer, and
notorious gangland killer”. Durr explains. “Everyone in the play is hiding
something, not least Jonny. I can’t wait to bring him to life”
Durr, best known for his roles
as PC Mike Bradley in Heartbeat and in Casualty, brings a wealth
of experience to the production. “He’s reuniting with director Philip Franks,
who played Sergeant Craddock alongside him in Heartbeat. ““He’s become
not just a dear friend but a terrific director as well” says Durr. “I’ve wanted
to work with Original Theatre since they started 20 years ago, so It’s great we’ve
finally made it happen”
Speaking about his career,
which has ranged from the Royal Shakespeare Company to playing Tony Blair on
stage, Durr says: “I love variety and mixing things up. I’ve got to play
everything from a knight in shining armour to a sociopathic serial killer. The
most interesting role is always the next one, and Jonny is certainly
interesting!”
Susie Blake as Shirley
Returning after starring in
Torben Betts” Murder in the Dark last year, Susie Blake plays Shirley,
the mother of Jonny “The Cyclops”. “She may or may not have dementia” Blake
says mysteriously. “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”
Blake, beloved for her work
with Victoria Wood and her role in Coronation Street, was eager to
return to work with Torben Betts. “We had huge fun touring Murder in the
Dark and it was a great success” she recalls. “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”
At 75, Blake continues to
embrace the touring life with enthusiasm. “The joy of it is that I love
exploring different parts of the country armed with my National Trust card and
Art Pass. I’m a Buddhist, which helps me stay calm” she explains. “I’m fearless
when I’m making friends now, and don’t worry about what people think of me.
Theatre is absolutely my first love. I love an audience”
Max Bowden as Paul
Max Bowden, best known for
playing Ben Mitchell in EastEnders, takes on the role of Paul, an
undercover police officer who’s dressed as a priest. ““He’s been sent in to do
some groundwork on Jonny “The Cyclops”, a notorious local gangster who’s very
much on the police’s radar” Bowden explains. “Paul is trying to keep his cover
intact while gathering intel, which obviously creates some great tension and
comedy, especially when things start to spiral out of control”
This marks Bowden’s second
collaboration with Original Theatre, having toured as Jack Firebrace in their
acclaimed production of Birdsong last year. “Original Theatre has such a
strong reputation for producing innovative and captivating shows” he says. “I’ve
seen first hand how committed they are to quality storytelling and high
production values. It’s exciting to be part of a company that consistently
pushes boundaries”
Bowden describes the role as
demanding but exhilarating: “In a fast-paced ensemble piece like this, the
energy and timing has to be really sharp. But that’s what makes it exciting. It’s the kind of role that keeps you on your toes every night”
Katie McGlynn as Lisa
Katie McGlynn, familiar to
audiences from Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, plays Lisa, the
glamorous girlfriend of Jonny “The Cyclops”. “She’s quite misunderstood and
underestimated” McGlynn says. “She’s got a childlike energy about her, she’s quite
unpredictable, and she’s got lots of layers, so she’s really interesting to
play. I can really empathise with her because she’s always wanted to be an
actress but never quite made it”
McGlynn is particularly excited
about the transition to theatre. “After so many years on screen, I’m really
enjoying treading the boards” she says. “It’s very different to TV, because you
get that atmosphere with a live audience. When I made my professional stage
debut a couple of years ago in Wish You Were Dead I was unbelievably
nervous, but I fell in love with it. I love the thrill, and I also love playing
the story in order, which doesn’t generally happen on screen”
Her portrayal of Sinead in Coronation
Street, who died from cancer, continues to resonate with viewers. “Years
later, I still get stopped in the street and sent messages about it” she
reflects. “I’m really proud and grateful that Corrie gave me that story to
portray. The greatest reward of all was knowing that what we did helped save
lives” through raised awareness about smear tests.
The Creative Vision
Playwright Torben Betts has
created what the cast unanimously describe as a brilliant, unpredictable
script. “It’s bonkers in the best sort of way” says Katie McGlynn. “If people
want drama, comedy, thrills, and some emotion too, It’s all there” Susie Blake
adds: “It’s quite dark, and funnily gruesome. There are surprises galore”
Director Philip Franks, who has
established an excellent rapport with the cast, brings clarity and creativity
to the production. Max Bowden praises his approach: “He brings such clarity and
creativity to the rehearsal room, and his sense of storytelling is second to
none. He really knows how to bring out the best in everyone”
The ensemble atmosphere has
been particularly rewarding. As Jason Durr notes: “When you get to work with
people with naturally funny bones It’s just such a delight. We get on famously
already, so I’m sure that’ll continue out on tour. I think one of the
challenges will be that we might have too much fun, and I’ll be struggling not
to laugh the whole time”
Original Theatre: Award-Winning Excellence
Founded in 2004, Original
Theatre has built an exceptional reputation for producing high-quality,
innovative theatre. The company was awarded a Critics” Circle Theatre Award for
exceptional theatre-making during the Covid lockdowns and received an Olivier
nomination for The Time Machine: A Comedy in 2024.
Their portfolio includes
acclaimed productions such as Birdsong, Murder in the Dark, The
Mirror Crack’d, and many others. Max Bowden sums up the company’s appeal: “What
I particularly appreciate is their collaborative approach; they really value
the cast and crew, which makes for a supportive and creative environment”
The Tour
The cast are all looking
forward to the touring experience. Jason Durr knows many of the venues well: “They’re
just right for the show, intimate enough that the audience will feel they’re
really part of the show. I’m looking forward to seeing how audiences in
different parts of the country react”
Katie McGlynn is excited about
the opportunity to explore the country: “I love that aspect of touring, It’s a
great way to uncover some hidden gems in places you might not otherwise get to
visit. The cast is great fun, a really lovely group. We’ve been having such a
laugh in rehearsals so I’m sure that will continue on our travels”
Max Bowden agrees: “There’s
something exciting about taking a show on the road and sharing it with new
audiences in different places every night. Each venue has its own energy, which
keeps the performance fresh. Of course, it can be demanding at times, but that
sense of adventure and the joy of performing make it incredibly rewarding”
Tickets:
Tickets:
www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/Murder-at-Midnight
For more information about the
tour: www.murderplay.com
Watch the trailer:
