Degrees of Error, New Theatre, Cardiff
Bristol-based Degrees of Error certainly kept their Cardiff audience fully engaged throughout the improvised Agatha Christie and Cluedo-style whodunnit. Having conquered the Edinburgh Fringe, the company is on the road and delivers a different show every performance because the audience provides the basic elements that the cast work with to create their murder scenario.
I don’t think the choice of scenario or prop was that great for the cast to work with to be totally honest and some ideas that were suggested by the audience that were not chosen would have been funnier. There was a running joke all the way through this performance that was also the way the murder was committed which I worked out way before the detective came up with his solution to the crime. But that was not the cast’s fault and toilet humour is an easy fall back.
Despite that it was witty and most of the time the humour worked with the requisite amount of quick thinking, rapid presumably behind-the-scenes discussions, and possibly some well worked tropes.
The audience seemed to understand the format and played along and most of the time it was genuinely funny and even the most predictable of gags and puns were worth a laugh.
The show starts with the detective throwing a deerstalker hat to be caught by a member of the audience who then chooses from audience members shouted-out suggestions the scenario and an object for the crime. At some stage they also choose the murderer and victim which only the cast is then told. The detective then sort of controls parts of the story but the bulk is improvised.
This fast-moving show will delight fans of improvisation, and the ridiculous development of plot will bring lots of smiles as the talented cast members interact usually seamlessly.
Check out for more Wales tour dates including Bangor and Swansea. https://www.murdershedidntwrite.com/
28th March 2025 Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea
Taliesin Arts Centre, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 8PZ
https://www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk/en/performances?id=60461
29th March 2025 Pontio Theatre, Bangor
Pontio Theatre, University, Pontio, Deiniol Rd, Bangor, LL57 2TQ
https://tickets.pontio.co.uk/Online/Default.asp?sessionlanguage=E
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