MURDER was committed at Leamington Rugby Club but the miscreant was swiftly brought to book in this year’s welcome return to the stage from specialists in outdoor drama.
Leamington-based Heartbreak Productions have been setting up their stage locally and touring the rest of the nation for three decades and brought all that experience and expertise to a fun show of intrigue and murder.
A good crowd brought hampers and the odd rain hat along to witness the action and even have a stab at collaring the criminal.
Built around a village hall staging of Shakespeare’s classic, the ins and outs of six people staging the play soon becomes five as a body is discovered. Through revelations and comic clashes the audience get closer to uncovering the murderer without ever getting any nearer any actual sighting of the Bard’s drama.
The arrival of the inevitable inspector spreads confusion and misunderstanding in equal measure and, through some lively songs, a ballet and even a splendidly comic sound effect sketch justice is finally done.
Performers Deakin van Leeuwen, Stuart Ash, Eloise Hare, Simon Garrington and Erin Claire Spence provided boundless energy despite the occasional shower in a show that never let up for a moment.
Visit heartbreakproductions.co.uk for details of forthcoming outdoor offerings by the company.
