John Bishop, Catherine Tate, Tim Vine and more

John Bishop, Catherine Tate, Tim Vine and Ruby Wax are among the stars lined up to perform in an unrehearsed murder-mystery.

Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] will feature a different star guest each night who will join an ensemble who have learned a script.

The guest line-up also includes Gillian Anderson, Jim Broadbent, Joanna Lumley, Damian Lewis, Clive Anderson, Gyles Brandreth, Marcus Brigstocke, Simon Callow, Ronan Keating, Maureen Lipman, Juliet Stephenson and Meera Syal.

They will wear an earpiece during he show to receive instructions that may help the  solve the crime in an isolated manor house.

The play is narrated by the voices of Ian McKellen and Judi Dench.

Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] is being staged by Park Theatre in North London, to raise money to cover its £250,000-a-year running costs, and comedy producers Avalon. All the guest performers are donating their time for free.

Tim Vine said: ‘I’m really looking forward to this unique theatrical experience. To be honest, I’m often on stage with no idea what I’m supposed to be doing and a strange voice in my head, so this ought to be a piece of cake.’

It will run at the venue in Finsbury Park from July 15 to 27 before a full run at  the Edinburgh Fringe, where performers are yet to be announced.

The Park’s artistic director, Jez Bond, added: ‘We’re very fortunate that the leading actors in our country understand the power and importance of smaller scale theatres and the challenges they face. 

‘Performing across the run are a mixture of those who've supported us since the building was a hard-hat site and those who've come to know us more recently. I am grateful to everyone who has donated their time to help raise vital funds by performing this show - and am thrilled they're so up for it.’

Published: 2 Apr 2019