Topped in the Big Top – Large group script

We can customise this game.  However, sadly we do have to charge for this service as even minor customisations take between 1-2 hours to process in the office and we need to buy toilet roll and biscuits as much as the next person…

It’s hard to give “ball park” figures for what different customisations would cost however we’ve attempted to HERE.

Remember… if you just need 1 extra person, or 1 less person, why not add in the inspector as your extra guest.  The inspector can usually be male or female as the “for real” inspector can simply invent a new name for themselves.

Some hosts prefer to play the inspector role as it means they can work on the catering while the round plays out amongst their guests.

These games require 7-13 cast and involve the rest of the audience by getting them to ask pre-set questions – which are provided to them on paper by the inspector at the start of each round.

They run in a similar way to a dinner party, so are an ideal first choice for novice hosts and acing teams with little or no experience running large scale events.

These games work best as a sit down event with 6-12 tables of guests, with a suspect on each table.

As a rough guide these mysteries take approximately 2-3 hours to complete with a three course meal.

During the game the audience will listen to five short sets of dialogue from the cast and pose pre-scripted questions (which the cast answer with pre-scripted answers). There are three rounds which can be evenly spread throughout the night or, if preferred, the question and answer rounds can be bunched together into one large round.

At the end of the final round the guests are given time to decide who is the murderer, and once the guests have decided who did it, how and why (i.e. the murderer and motive) they will complete the answer sheet and hand it in.

How these games usually run.

Introductory Round: Introductions by the cast and the facilitator “inspector character”.
Rounds 1, 2 and 3: Scripted dialogue from the cast, followed by pre-set questions and answers.
Concluding Statements and solution: conclusions by the cast and denouement from the inspector.

There is one “inspector character” who acts as facilitator during the event and is essential to the cast.

Reducing the cast size will reduce the length of time required to solve the mystery.

The inspector/facilitator role is essential for the game to work. He/she facilitates the entire evening.

The other characters can be taken from the audience and briefed before game play starts, OR you can select a group to play your suspects in advance of the night and give them time to get fluent in their roles and answers.

The rest of the guests are fully included in the game as they’ll be asking questions throughout the night.

Essential Cast:
Inspector Miles A. Head – The policeman responsible for solving the crime
Efficient in his own peculiar way, Inspector Miles A. Head has an unusual method of solving crimes – he involves everyone!

Koffey the Clown – Typical circus clown
Flamboyant makeup with a painted smile, brightly coloured uniform and bowler hat and a large bow tie. He has a bandaged right hand.

Xavier Fallin – Trapeze artiste par excellence
Of Russian descent. Speaks with a strong accent. Wears a leotard covered with a large flowing cloak.

Angel Wings – Trapeze artist, partner to Xavier Fallin
Dressed in a spangled costume and white sparkly tights.

Dirk Hurlitt – Knife-thrower
A full-blood Romany wearing a red bandana, wide-sleeved shirt cinched in at the waist with a red sash, silk neckerchief and black breeches fastened at the ankles.

Ella Vated – High Wire-walker
Wears a black catsuit and soft shoes. Her hair is slicked back to give her a streamlined but severe appearance.

Amy Strate – Knife-thrower’s assistant
Dressed in a gypsy blouse and bandana, coloured leggings or tights with hot pants and low heeled shoes.

Additional characters in the 9 cast game:

Molly Coddler – Matron/nurse
The resident ‘medic’, attending to all the first aid and palliative treatment of the performers and staff. Dressed as a nursing sister complete with hat, belt and black tights.

Bernie Le Bouche – Fire-eater
Long-haired but clean shaven. Dressed in medieval jester-style tunic, tights and hat. He has a bandage on his right hand.

Additional characters in the 11 cast game:

Phil Mabiceps – The circus strongman
Big and very strong. Dressed in a leopard skin leotard and boxer boots. Often carries a hand weight to exercise his muscles.

Hi Lee Supple – Chinese acrobat and contortionist
Fit, slim and very able, she wears a one piece catsuit or leotard decorated with sequins and beads. She has a dragon tattoo (actually a transfer) on her back and silk ribbon streamers attached to her wrists.

Additional characters in the 13 suspect game:

Hairy Mary – Bearded lady. As her name suggests she sports a full beard and moustache but she is obviously a large-busted woman wearing a floral dress and high-heeled shoes. She wears a gardenia in her smartly styled hair.

Orson Ryder – Bareback rider. French by birth but has spent so many years in the circus that most of his accent has faded, although it is still just discernable. He wears a cowboy shirt, trousers, chaps, boots and a stetson hat.