Which script should I pick?

The first thing you need to decide is how you are planning to run your event.  That will dictate what murder mystery format will suit you best.

Think about:

• What kind of venue do you have available?
• How many people can you fit into venue?
• Catering?
• Do you want to take part too?
• How many people can you rope in easily as “cast”?
• How much effort do you want to go to?
• Will your cast be willing to rehearse?  Or do you need something that can be acted script in hand?
• Do you have access to props?  Sound equipment? Staging?

If you wanted to run a mystery without food, most have distinct rounds, so have a think about how you are going to break up those rounds.  Will you do team building activities between rounds?  Or just drink prosecco…

We’ve broken down the different formats for you so you can quickly spool through.  Some have videos which explain how they run to help you decide.

These extension kits are always created to order and costs vary depending on how many extra guests are needed – just get in touch for details.

Do bear in mind, extending a game beyond 20 characters is not something we often recommend, as involving everyone equally extends play time to nearly 5 hours… but sometimes when you just need 1-5 extras, it’s worth the extra effort and time it’ll take to play!

More often than not we suggest using the dinner party style scripts.  With these you have cast and guests, and it is possible to request we provide character details for each “guest” so they all feel included.  Again this is something we build to order and quotes vary depending on what we already have on file.

READ MORE ABOUT CUSTOMISATION FEES: HERE

The cast can be audience members as you need no prior rehearsal, and they are not explicitly told in their booklets they are the murderer.  So everyone can take part and have fun.

The only person in the know is the host who usually takes the role of the inspector.  However when we print these to order, we always seal the solution in an envelope – which means as host you too can take part, and as even the inspector won’t know who the murderer is!

The other guests at these events take the role of “detectives” and will question the cast during the evening using pre-written questions.

These questions mean that everyone gets involved, and the results are hysterical as guests and cast throw themselves into accents.  While we don’t yet have any videos of this style of DIY event, they run in a very similar way to our Participative evenings below (which do contain a video).  They just aren’t as “event polished”.

These types of games work best with audience numbers between 12 and 80.

READ MORE ABOUT THE FORMAT HERE

They are immensely popular, as they involve the audience as suspects and detectives and everyone gets the opportunity to examine evidence and interrogate the inspector and his helper over the course of the evening.

The difference between this style and the DIY version above is:

• Actors – these participative evenings come with 2 actors to facilitate.  The actors know all the back story to the plot and can answer other questions the guests want to pose.  They also add atmosphere and a lot of fun.
• Scripts – these events are always introduced with a scene acted script in hand by the guests – this is always hysterical as everyone hams it up and throws themselves into things with no rehearsal.
• Evidence – in the participative evenings there are crime scene photos and photos of physical evidence to examine.  Audience are left wondering what these clues mean to the case and how to fit them into the bigger picture.  These pictures prompt lots of discussion.
• Questions – these are all worded in first person, which means they are “ready to go”.  They are specifically designed for large scale events, and written as “script” in contrast to the DIY scripts above where the information is simply adapted from a standard dinner party kit.

These types of games work best with numbers between 12 and 80.

While we do not sell these event scripts for DIY use, they are available to event managers on a commercial license basis.  Do contact us for details.

READ MORE ABOUT THE FORMAT HERE

Clue based semi scripted games are usually only available as DIY scripts, though we can work with you to provide these event managed if you prefer.

These are usually performed by seven cast and the mystery is solved in teams.

Teams watch 2-3 short skits and swap written clues during the course of the evening.

The scripts are small and are easily learned by complete amateurs. Written clues need to be printed and cut up prior to the event, and on the night these are passed around by the guests.

These games are immensely popular, as there is very little preparation, rehearsal or props required.

If needed the cast can act “script in hand” and if they do not read any accompanying material they too can become part of the audience as they don’t need to find out “who dunnit”.

These types of games work best with numbers between 50 and 250. Though be aware with numbers above 100 you will need microphones for the cast and duplicate clues.

READ MORE ABOUT THE FORMAT HERE

These games are designed to be run over a formal dinner, and are what most people recognise as a murder mystery evening you would attend in a hotel setting.

The game requires 5/6 cast and they need to have several rehearsals together before the performance, as well as the confidence to learn their character background and ad lib for questions they will be asked by the guests.

These games are great fun, but not the first choice for a novice host unless their cast happen to come from an amateur dramatic background.

These games work best with audience numbers between 30 and 160 – however be aware you MAY need microphones depending on the venue acoustics and cast ability, with numbers above 100.

We are regularly booked to provide these style of events to venues around the UK and have worked overseas too.

READ MORE ABOUT THE FORMAT HERE

These are not sit-down events and are great for fundraising, small bed and breakfasts or large hotels wanting to make the best use of their space and invite maximum participants.

If wished a buffet can be made available in a separate room, or in all the rooms used, for guests to pick at on their way around, or you can have a formal meal half way through the programme.

These games are hugely popular as they require guests to really get into the whole interrogation thing and are, of course, great fun.

They are more time consuming to prepare, and require a dedicated cast who are prepared to learn their lines and act throughout the night, as well as an array of props.

These games can be adapted to run from single stage, by photographing the clues and displaying them on an evidence board, and simply asking the cast to recite their monologues in turn from the stage.

These games work well with numbers between 50 and 500. But please be aware, the more people you have attending the more planning you will need to put into organising the event.

For numbers greater than 200 you will need to think about using microphones for the cast depending on the size of the audience in each room.

Also bear in mind that with greater numbers attending you must ensure that the rooms you plan to use are large enough to accommodate the number of guests!

We are regularly booked to provide these style of events to venues around the UK and have provided event management overseas too – just get in touch for details.

READ MORE ABOUT THE FORMAT HERE

We can also produce games tailored to your specific venue or event given enough notice.

If you need something specific – because we design and construct games “in-house” we are one of very few companies world-wide who can custom write to order to achieve your specific requirements.  While we have “templates” for our standard events, custom events are by nature much more fluid, and as yet, we’ve not had a challenge we’ve not been able to meet.

The sorts of things we’ve done in the past include:

• Providing fully immersive games where everyone has a suspect role and the event runs on a mix and mingle basis, with each guest having secret missions during the proceedings to undertake.
• Providing games where everyone is fully involved at a dinner table, with questions and answers amongst the table ONLY, but drawing information together towards the end to provide 1 murderer in the room.  (This sounds obvious, but it’s a logistical feat and not as easy as it sounds if you aren’t running “event format” style.)
• Arranging team building events where teams work against each other to achieve mission objectives and discover the authors of a crime before it happens by exploring CSI work stations and breaking codes to access other team’s files.
• Arranging team building events with video footage of crimes and evidence for them to discuss and handle.
• Designing educational games for TEAFL work.

Fees for custom writing kits vary dependent on game and what is required.
Just contact us for a FREE custom game quote, or for any event management requirements for your murder mystery night.