Show inspired by The Mousetrap and Matilda
Those who love both murder mysteries and musicals are in for a treat when a special stage show comes to the Tolbooth later this year.
‘The Generalist – a murder mystery musical’ is being presented by Scene Zero and will run at the Stirling venue on September 22.
The show, a staged reading with songs, has been written by bestselling crime fiction author Sophie Hannah while the music has been arranged by Annette Armitage.
It follows the story of John Danes, a ‘generalist’ who does all sorts of strange jobs for all kinds of peculiar people.
He is about to set off to Idlewyld House when a strange man knocks on his door. This stranger knows John is expected at Idlewyld House though he won’t say how he knows this. When asked who he is he replies only with: “I am the murderer.” He then disappears.
John later arrives at Idlewyld House and when he gets there he asks if he has been summoned to solve a murder, only to be assured that nothing of the sort has happened.
However things soon change when one of the other guests is found dead at the foot of the stairs.
Though there are many people at the house who could have killed him – the man calling himself the murderer was definitely not one of them.
The show is described as a family-friendly murder mystery containing a serious puzzle and thirteen completely original, and brilliantly catchy tunes.
Organisers say those who go along should expect something which takes inspiration from both Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and Tim Minchin’s Matilda.
Sophie Hannah is an internationally bestselling crime writer, and the author of the new Hercule Poirot novels, commissioned by Agatha Christie’s estate and publishers.
She says she was inspired to write this murder mystery after attending a production of Romeo and Juliet, of which her daughter was Juliet – and to which some brilliant songs had been added, turning it into a musical.
Annette Armitage is a composer, musician and teacher who leads several musical ensembles in Cambridge – including the Hayward Trio and Ensemble in the Round.
The performance will last for two and a half hours and will include an interval.
Tickets are priced £12/£10. For more information go to culturestirling.org.