Whodunnit Unrehearsed 4
14 May 2026
Park Theatre
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Whodunnit Unrehearsed 4 is, as the title suggests, the fourth installation of the Park Theatre’s bi-annual fundraiser, running until 27 June. The Park Theatre is a charity with no public funding and has to raise 600k pounds each year on top of box office takings to continue their important work in keeping theatre accessible to everyone, doing important community work, and supporting new developing theatre, all while keeping ticket prices low. The Park Theatre is my local theatre, and an incredibly important community staple that deserves all the support they can get.
For Whodunnit Unrehearsed a different celebrity takes on the role of the sheriff each night, without ever having seen the script or show, prompted through an earpiece, written cue cards, and occasionally script scraps being thrust at them. Audiences don’t know who they will get to see until the show opens each night, keeping the performances fresh and incredibly hilarious.
The town of Graveside has plunged into the Wild West this time, presenting a yeehawing musical murder mystery full of bad puns and worse jokes, involving the audience in the shenanigans, and overall causing mischief wherever possible. Stolen treasure, a gang of outlaws, a scheming reverend, and a new sheriff who is thrown into the mix to solve a dastardly murder. The plot is laid out to be funny, convoluted, but relatively easy to solve, with bombastic side-eye shade being thrown at every opportunity.
The adventure starts immediately when entering the theatre through large swinging saloon doors! Actors are on hand to immerse visitors in the Wild West theme with plenty of photo opportunities, interactions and games throughout. There are themed drinks available, and decorations in every corner of the theatre. A brilliantly thorough theming that really gets audiences into the mood. For some ticket holders, there’s an additional private saloon with more live entertainment before the show and during interval. Some tickets also entitle visitors to a small role within the play itself, so everyone gets to choose their level of interaction by the ticket they choose. Additionally there are a few seats throughout the auditorium that get special attention via lines to be read out at certain moments in the show, direct interactions with the cabaret seating in the stalls, and a raffle for a unique item signed by the day’s celebrity.
For the performance I visited, Kerry Ellis became the sheriff for the evening, taking on the challenge of performing a role without prior knowledge of the script at all. She did a fantastic job and was up for all the silliness thrust upon her by the cast, resulting in a brilliantly funny show.
As this is a fundraising vehicle, the emphasis is firmly placed on entertainment value, achieved through silly sidebars, funny sound effects, and a ludicrous storyline. The daily celebrity is put through the paces, having to show off their improvisation and puzzle solving skills while being made to dance and sing for a delighted audience. The show is followed by a short Q&A and an auction for a meet and greet with the sheriff, raising more funds for the theatre to continue its important work.
