Topped at the Big Top
Circus Themed Murder Mystery
From: £22.99
- Virtual Video Inspector
- Instant download option available
- Can be played in person & Virtually
- Easy to change number of players after purchase*
Ivor Whiplash, Ringmaster and owner of the Burnem and Barley Circus, has been found lying face down in the sawdust of the Big Top with a knife in his back. His stockwhip lay by his right hand and he is undoubtedly very dead!
But who clipped his ticket? Who cancelled his contract?
All the performers have been assembled in the booking office. It is time to call in Detective Inspector Miles A. Head.
But can you help him work out whodunnit?
Download our Free Editable Invitation
To make planning your party easy we have created a Free invitation download customised for each game.
- Ready and easy to edit PDF
- Download and fill in your guest names and event information
- Save and send by email or messenger
- Fill in digitally and print
- Print and fill in by hand
Video Inspector Included in all Murder Mystery Kits
Meet your detective
Each round your detective revels clues and helps you solve the case.
Video detective is included in all our games as an option the detective can also be played by a guest the host or as an audio recording.
Download Samples
Introducing the suspects
Koffey the Clown – Typical circus clown. (Gender Neutral)
In flamboyant make-up with a painted smile, brightly coloured uniform, bowler hat and a large bow tie, Koffey also has a bandaged right hand.
Xavier Fallin – Trapeze artiste par excellence. (Male)
Of Russian descent, Xavier wears a leotard covered with a large flowing cloak.
Angel Wings – Trapeze artist, partner to Xavier Fallin. (Gender Neutral)
Slim but surprisingly strong, Angel dresses in a spangled costume with white sparkly tights.
Dirk Hurlitt – Knife-thrower. (Male)
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.
Elli Vated – Highwire walker. (Female)
Elli wears a black costume and soft shoes, with hair slicked back to give a streamlined but severe appearance.
Amy Strate – Knife-thrower’s assistant. (Female)
A former animal trainer dressed in a gypsy blouse and bandana, coloured leggings with hot pants and low-heeled shoes.
Koffey the Clown – Typical circus clown. (Gender Neutral)
In flamboyant make-up with a painted smile, brightly coloured uniform, bowler hat and a large bow tie, Koffey also has a bandaged right hand.
Xavier Fallin – Trapeze artiste par excellence. (Male)
Of Russian descent, Xavier wears a leotard covered with a large flowing cloak.
Angel Wings – Trapeze artist, partner to Xavier Fallin. (Gender Neutral)
Slim but surprisingly strong, Angel dresses in a spangled costume with white sparkly tights.
Dirk Hurlitt – Knife-thrower. (Male)
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.
Elli Vated – Highwire walker. (Female)
Elli wears a black costume and soft shoes, with hair slicked back to give a streamlined but severe appearance.
Amy Strate – Knife-thrower’s assistant. (Female)
A former animal trainer dressed in a gypsy blouse and bandana, coloured leggings with hot pants and low-heeled shoes.
Molly Coddler – Matron/nurse. (Female)
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 and tunic.
Bernie le Bouche – Fire-eater. (Male)
Long-haired and dressed in a medieval jester-style tunic, tights and hat, Bernie also has a bandaged right hand.
Koffey the Clown – Typical circus clown. (Gender Neutral)
In flamboyant make-up with a painted smile, brightly coloured uniform, bowler hat and a large bow tie, Koffey also has a bandaged right hand.
Xavier Fallin – Trapeze artiste par excellence. (Male)
Of Russian descent, Xavier wears a leotard covered with a large flowing cloak.
Angel Wings – Trapeze artist, partner to Xavier Fallin. (Gender Neutral)
Slim but surprisingly strong, Angel dresses in a spangled costume with white sparkly tights.
Dirk Hurlitt – Knife-thrower. (Male)
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.
Elli Vated – Highwire walker. (Female)
Elli wears a black costume and soft shoes, with hair slicked back to give a streamlined but severe appearance.
Amy Strate – Knife-thrower’s assistant. (Female)
A former animal trainer dressed in a gypsy blouse and bandana, coloured leggings with hot pants and low-heeled shoes.
Molly Coddler – Matron/nurse. (Female)
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 and tunic.
Bernie le Bouche – Fire-eater. (Male)
Long-haired and dressed in a medieval jester-style tunic, tights and hat, Bernie also has a bandaged right hand.
Phil Mabiceps – The circus strongman. (Male)
Big and very strong, Phil is dressed in a leopardskin leotard and boxer boots and often carries a hand weight to exercise his muscles.
Bendy Wendy – Acrobat and contortionist. (Female)
Fit, slim and very able, Wendy wears a one-piece catsuit or leotard decorated with sequins and beads. She has a dragon tattoo on her back and silk ribbon streamers attached to her wrists.
Koffey the Clown – Typical circus clown. (Gender Neutral)
In flamboyant make-up with a painted smile, brightly coloured uniform, bowler hat and a large bow tie, Koffey also has a bandaged right hand.
Xavier Fallin – Trapeze artiste par excellence. (Male)
Of Russian descent, Xavier wears a leotard covered with a large flowing cloak.
Angel Wings – Trapeze artist, partner to Xavier Fallin. (Gender Neutral)
Slim but surprisingly strong, Angel dresses in a spangled costume with white sparkly tights.
Dirk Hurlitt – Knife-thrower. (Male)
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.
Elli Vated – Highwire walker. (Female)
Elli wears a black costume and soft shoes, with hair slicked back to give a streamlined but severe appearance.
Amy Strate – Knife-thrower’s assistant. (Female)
A former animal trainer dressed in a gypsy blouse and bandana, coloured leggings with hot pants and low-heeled shoes.
Molly Coddler – Matron/nurse. (Female)
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 and tunic.
Bernie le Bouche – Fire-eater. (Male)
Long-haired and dressed in a medieval jester-style tunic, tights and hat, Bernie also has a bandaged right hand.
Phil Mabiceps – The circus strongman. (Male)
Big and very strong, Phil is dressed in a leopardskin leotard and boxer boots and often carries a hand weight to exercise his muscles.
Bendy Wendy – Acrobat and contortionist. (Female)
Fit, slim and very able, Wendy wears a one-piece catsuit or leotard decorated with sequins and beads. She has a dragon tattoo on her back and silk ribbon streamers attached to her wrists.
Hairy Mary – Bearded lady. (Female)
Sporting a full beard and moustache, Mary is a large-busted woman wearing a floral dress, high-heeled shoes and a gardenia in her smartly styled hair.
Orson Ryder – Bareback rider. (Male)
French by birth, Orson has spent many years in the circus. He wears a cowboy shirt, trousers, chaps, boots and a stetson hat.
Koffey the Clown – Typical circus clown. (Gender Neutral)
In flamboyant make-up with a painted smile, brightly coloured uniform, bowler hat and a large bow tie, Koffey also has a bandaged right hand.
Xavier Fallin – Trapeze artiste par excellence. (Male)
Of Russian descent, Xavier wears a leotard covered with a large flowing cloak.
Angel Wings – Trapeze artist, partner to Xavier Fallin. (Gender Neutral)
Slim but surprisingly strong, Angel dresses in a spangled costume with white sparkly tights.
Dirk Hurlitt – Knife-thrower. (Male)
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.
Elli Vated – Highwire walker. (Female)
Elli wears a black costume and soft shoes, with hair slicked back to give a streamlined but severe appearance.
Amy Strate – Knife-thrower’s assistant. (Female)
A former animal trainer dressed in a gypsy blouse and bandana, coloured leggings with hot pants and low-heeled shoes.
Molly Coddler – Matron/nurse. (Female)
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 and tunic.
Bernie le Bouche – Fire-eater. (Male)
Long-haired and dressed in a medieval jester-style tunic, tights and hat, Bernie also has a bandaged right hand.
Phil Mabiceps – The circus strongman. (Male)
Big and very strong, Phil is dressed in a leopardskin leotard and boxer boots and often carries a hand weight to exercise his muscles.
Bendy Wendy – Acrobat and contortionist. (Female)
Fit, slim and very able, Wendy wears a one-piece catsuit or leotard decorated with sequins and beads. She has a dragon tattoo on her back and silk ribbon streamers attached to her wrists.
Hairy Mary – Bearded lady. (Female)
Sporting a full beard and moustache, Mary is a large-busted woman wearing a floral dress, high-heeled shoes and a gardenia in her smartly styled hair.
Orson Ryder – Bareback rider. (Male)
French by birth, Orson has spent many years in the circus. He wears a cowboy shirt, trousers, chaps, boots and a stetson hat.
Patsy Pieface – Junior clown, stooge to Koffey. (Female)
Younger and more energetic than Koffey, this clown is usually seen in a patchwork top, baggy trousers and a bowler hat with a large daisy.
Willy Droppit – Juggler and jester. (Male)
Dressed as a colourful jester with bells and tassels, you carry your clubs or balls with you, which is probably safest!
Koffey the Clown – Typical circus clown. (Gender Neutral)
In flamboyant make-up with a painted smile, brightly coloured uniform, bowler hat and a large bow tie, Koffey also has a bandaged right hand.
Xavier Fallin – Trapeze artiste par excellence. (Male)
Of Russian descent, Xavier wears a leotard covered with a large flowing cloak.
Angel Wings – Trapeze artist, partner to Xavier Fallin. (Gender Neutral)
Slim but surprisingly strong, Angel dresses in a spangled costume with white sparkly tights.
Dirk Hurlitt – Knife-thrower. (Male)
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.
Elli Vated – Highwire walker. (Female)
Elli wears a black costume and soft shoes, with hair slicked back to give a streamlined but severe appearance.
Amy Strate – Knife-thrower’s assistant. (Female)
A former animal trainer dressed in a gypsy blouse and bandana, coloured leggings with hot pants and low-heeled shoes.
Molly Coddler – Matron/nurse. (Female)
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 and tunic.
Bernie le Bouche – Fire-eater. (Male)
Long-haired and dressed in a medieval jester-style tunic, tights and hat, Bernie also has a bandaged right hand.
Phil Mabiceps – The circus strongman. (Male)
Big and very strong, Phil is dressed in a leopardskin leotard and boxer boots and often carries a hand weight to exercise his muscles.
Bendy Wendy – Acrobat and contortionist. (Female)
Fit, slim and very able, Wendy wears a one-piece catsuit or leotard decorated with sequins and beads. She has a dragon tattoo on her back and silk ribbon streamers attached to her wrists.
Hairy Mary – Bearded lady. (Female)
Sporting a full beard and moustache, Mary is a large-busted woman wearing a floral dress, high-heeled shoes and a gardenia in her smartly styled hair.
Orson Ryder – Bareback rider. (Male)
French by birth, Orson has spent many years in the circus. He wears a cowboy shirt, trousers, chaps, boots and a stetson hat.
Patsy Pieface – Junior clown, stooge to Koffey. (Female)
Younger and more energetic than Koffey, this clown is usually seen in a patchwork top, baggy trousers and a bowler hat with a large daisy.
Willy Droppit – Juggler and jester. (Male)
Dressed as a colourful jester with bells and tassels, you carry your clubs or balls with you, which is probably safest!
Dolly Bird – Dove trainer. (Female)
Dressed in white with many feathers on her dress and headdress, Dolly is a little difficult to get to know.
Major Coffup – Box Office manager. (Male)
Honest and trustworthy, Major Coffup wears a suit that’s seen better days and, somewhat incongruously, a baseball cap!
Koffey the Clown – Typical circus clown. (Gender Neutral)
In flamboyant make-up with a painted smile, brightly coloured uniform, bowler hat and a large bow tie, Koffey also has a bandaged right hand.
Xavier Fallin – Trapeze artiste par excellence. (Male)
Of Russian descent, Xavier wears a leotard covered with a large flowing cloak.
Angel Wings – Trapeze artist, partner to Xavier Fallin. (Gender Neutral)
Slim but surprisingly strong, Angel dresses in a spangled costume with white sparkly tights.
Dirk Hurlitt – Knife-thrower. (Male)
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.
Elli Vated – Highwire walker. (Female)
Elli wears a black costume and soft shoes, with hair slicked back to give a streamlined but severe appearance.
Amy Strate – Knife-thrower’s assistant. (Female)
A former animal trainer dressed in a gypsy blouse and bandana, coloured leggings with hot pants and low-heeled shoes.
Molly Coddler – Matron/nurse. (Female)
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 and tunic.
Bernie le Bouche – Fire-eater. (Male)
Long-haired and dressed in a medieval jester-style tunic, tights and hat, Bernie also has a bandaged right hand.
Phil Mabiceps – The circus strongman. (Male)
Big and very strong, Phil is dressed in a leopardskin leotard and boxer boots and often carries a hand weight to exercise his muscles.
Bendy Wendy – Acrobat and contortionist. (Female)
Fit, slim and very able, Wendy wears a one-piece catsuit or leotard decorated with sequins and beads. She has a dragon tattoo on her back and silk ribbon streamers attached to her wrists.
Hairy Mary – Bearded lady. (Female)
Sporting a full beard and moustache, Mary is a large-busted woman wearing a floral dress, high-heeled shoes and a gardenia in her smartly styled hair.
Orson Ryder – Bareback rider. (Male)
French by birth, Orson has spent many years in the circus. He wears a cowboy shirt, trousers, chaps, boots and a stetson hat.
Patsy Pieface – Junior clown, stooge to Koffey. (Female)
Younger and more energetic than Koffey, this clown is usually seen in a patchwork top, baggy trousers and a bowler hat with a large daisy.
Willy Droppit – Juggler and jester. (Male)
Dressed as a colourful jester with bells and tassels, you carry your clubs or balls with you, which is probably safest!
Dolly Bird – Dove trainer. (Female)
Dressed in white with many feathers on her dress and headdress, Dolly is a little difficult to get to know.
Major Coffup – Box Office manager. (Male)
Honest and trustworthy, Major Coffup wears a suit that’s seen better days and, somewhat incongruously, a baseball cap!
Chip McKing – Burger and hot dog vendor. (Male)
Fun-loving and jolly, Chip wears a straw boater, striped shirt and butcher’s apron.
Flossie Spinner – Candy floss seller. (Female)
A natural saleswoman, Flossie wears a candy-striped jacket or top, a chef’s hat and a white apron.
Koffey the Clown – Typical circus clown. (Gender Neutral)
In flamboyant make-up with a painted smile, brightly coloured uniform, bowler hat and a large bow tie, Koffey also has a bandaged right hand.
Xavier Fallin – Trapeze artiste par excellence. (Male)
Of Russian descent, Xavier wears a leotard covered with a large flowing cloak.
Angel Wings – Trapeze artist, partner to Xavier Fallin. (Gender Neutral)
Slim but surprisingly strong, Angel dresses in a spangled costume with white sparkly tights.
Dirk Hurlitt – Knife-thrower. (Male)
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.
Elli Vated – Highwire walker. (Female)
Elli wears a black costume and soft shoes, with hair slicked back to give a streamlined but severe appearance.
Amy Strate – Knife-thrower’s assistant. (Female)
A former animal trainer dressed in a gypsy blouse and bandana, coloured leggings with hot pants and low-heeled shoes.
Molly Coddler – Matron/nurse. (Female)
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 and tunic.
Bernie le Bouche – Fire-eater. (Male)
Long-haired and dressed in a medieval jester-style tunic, tights and hat, Bernie also has a bandaged right hand.
Phil Mabiceps – The circus strongman. (Male)
Big and very strong, Phil is dressed in a leopardskin leotard and boxer boots and often carries a hand weight to exercise his muscles.
Bendy Wendy – Acrobat and contortionist. (Female)
Fit, slim and very able, Wendy wears a one-piece catsuit or leotard decorated with sequins and beads. She has a dragon tattoo on her back and silk ribbon streamers attached to her wrists.
Hairy Mary – Bearded lady. (Female)
Sporting a full beard and moustache, Mary is a large-busted woman wearing a floral dress, high-heeled shoes and a gardenia in her smartly styled hair.
Orson Ryder – Bareback rider. (Male)
French by birth, Orson has spent many years in the circus. He wears a cowboy shirt, trousers, chaps, boots and a stetson hat.
Patsy Pieface – Junior clown, stooge to Koffey. (Female)
Younger and more energetic than Koffey, this clown is usually seen in a patchwork top, baggy trousers and a bowler hat with a large daisy.
Willy Droppit – Juggler and jester. (Male)
Dressed as a colourful jester with bells and tassels, you carry your clubs or balls with you, which is probably safest!
Dolly Bird – Dove trainer. (Female)
Dressed in white with many feathers on her dress and headdress, Dolly is a little difficult to get to know.
Major Coffup – Box Office manager. (Male)
Honest and trustworthy, Major Coffup wears a suit that’s seen better days and, somewhat incongruously, a baseball cap!
Chip McKing – Burger and hot dog vendor. (Male)
Fun-loving and jolly, Chip wears a straw boater, striped shirt and butcher’s apron.
Flossie Spinner – Candy floss seller. (Female)
A natural saleswoman, Flossie wears a candy-striped jacket or top, a chef’s hat and a white apron.
Lucas Natcher – Concession rent collector. (Male)
Suited and booted, Lucas is tough but kind and carries a money pouch.
Lotta Trash – Litter collector and general site cleaner. (Female)
Scruffy and surly, Lotta wears a warehouse coat and jeans and carries a litter spike and a black rubbish bag.
FAQ's
How long does it take to play a murder mystery game?
How long a murder mystery game takes to play depends on the number of players, the format (virtual or face-to-face), and other factors like eating and drinking consumption.
- Virtual games: Approximately 10 minutes per suspect (e.g., 1 hour for 6 players, 80 minutes for 8 players). A 20-player game on Zoom can be finished in 2 hours with a faster pace.
- Face-to-face games: Typically take 2–3½ hours when combined with a meal, but can vary depending on how relaxed the dining is. Adding ad-libbing, general conversation, can extend the duration.
- Quick large-group games: Custom “suspect/witness” split formats can reduce game time and maintain pace.
On average, dinner party muder mystery games take 2–3½ hours depending on circumstances.
You can find a more in-depth answer with more examples here.
Can the host play a Murder Mystery Game as well?
Yes the host can play. We designed our games to give you options when using our murder mystery games as a host you can decide to either
- Play the inspector
- Play a character
- Play a character AND the inspector.
- Just play host and use the recorded Video or Audio inspector.
How long will it take for my murder mystery game to arrive?
For downloadable kits delivery is instant. As soon as you clear check out you’ll be able to download your order.
If you order a CUSTOM version of a game – the first kit you will be able to access will be the original order. This is because we manually sit and adjust the games in the office when they’re ordered, so any customsation requires human input. This means the customisation will be done as soon as we can do it. Usually this is within 2 working days and once finished we email it to you. However we know how people like to plan… so the website delivers the original game immediately and we follow this up manually with an adjusted copy as soon as we’ve finished the work!
We are sensitive to the environment so rather than cutting down thousands of trees and holding stock, we print on demand.
This means printed order requests are handled within 24-48 hours and they’re usually dispatched as soon as they’re printed.
We work a 5 day week in the retail team. This means orders are shipped Monday through Friday.
Can I play this game with an odd number of guests e.g. 7 or 9 etc?
Yes, our games can be played in odd group sizes. We have a few options on how to do this:
- One guest can play as the inspector. In this case, a game for 8 players would suit a party of 9, for example. The option for a guest to play the inspector is included in all our Murder Mystery game kits.
- Ask us to adjust the game for you. We can make a number of changes to our games to fit your party; in most cases, this is by removing a character. There is a charge for this service, and it can be ordered when buying your game. Just order the size bigger than you need and use the customise game option to choose to remove one character.
- Get creative with your casting; people can share roles, or someone can play two characters.
Pre-Printed box set
Whats in the box
- Character Booklets
- Invitations & Envelopes
- Full instructions with hosting guide
- Theme and recipe suggestions
- Inspector script also available as MP3 and video
Need something bespoke?
Customise this game
This game can be customised to fit your event for an additional fee.
It’s hard to give “ball park” figures for what different customisations would cost however we’ve attempted to HERE.
Please do contact us for a free quote if you would like any customisations on your game before purchase.
Remember… if you just need 1 extra person, or 1 less person, why not have someone play the inspector role?
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.
Game Age Rating
Teen
This Game Contains
Murder – Violence
Love tangles – dating characters within the game.
4 reviews for Topped at the Big Top
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