Laugh and gasp at thriller heading to Northampton

Called The Other Side of Murder, the show comes from the producers of Torben Betts’ smash-hit plays Murder at Midnight and Murder in the Dark.

It tells of celebrated TV medium Darius Divine, host of hit light-entertainment show The Other Side, who plans a cosy family dinner and expects awkward small talk. He doesn’t expect his pregnant lover, his mother-in-law or a night of ghostly visitations and explosive revelations. As dinner burns and tensions rise, the line between performance and reality begins to shatter. Secrets surface, jealousies ignite and a final twist lands.

The cast is led by Rufus Hound, whose credits include One Man, Two Guvnors and Wind in the Willows, and Susie Blake, best known from Victoria Wood and Coronation Street.

Hound made his name through frequent appearances on television, hosting coverage of the Glastonbury Festival on the BBC in 2005 and going on appear in many comedy shows and quizzes such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Celebrity Juice where he was a regular panellist.

He has since become an established figure on the stage. From October 2012 to February 2013, Hound played the lead role of Francis Henshall in the National Theatre production of One Man, Two Guvnors on a UK tour. Following the end of the tour, he took over the role in the West End production at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. In 2014, Hound played the role of Freddie in the West End production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre. He played the role of Sancho Panza in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Don Quixote in 2016, and played Toad in the world premiere of the new musical, The Wind in the Willows, that year. He has returned to the RSC for various other productions.

Susie is best known for her portrayal of the TV announcer in Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV and for playing Bev Unwin in Coronation Street, a role she played between 2003 and 2006, before a brief return in 2015.

The Other Side of Murder is presented by the award-winning producers Original Theatre, whose credits include the hits Birdsong, Art and Being Mr Wickham, in association with Theatr Clwyd.

The creative team includes director Philip Franks, writer Torben Betts, designer Colin Falconer, lighting designer Jason Taylor, sound designer and composer Max Pappenheim and casting director Emma Sylvester.

The Other Side of Murder will run at the Royal & Derngate from February 8 to 13, 2027. It is recommended for ages 14 and above. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.