In Her Defence is available for touring productions at receiving houses nationwide. Contact us for more information; the show runs for approximately 45 minutes with minimal set and technical requirements.
DEAD HERRING ON STAGE - NEW MURDER MYSTERY PLAY FOR THE THEATRE
Back on stage
Our clients are used to our brand of quirky improvisation, role playing and characterization but did you know that we sometimes actually stick to a script?
Just recently we’ve headed back to our theatrical roots with a performance of Helen’s new play In Her Defence at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2022
Reviews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review from Edinburgh Guide – “Brilliantly Clever”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review from British Theatre Guide – “Skillfully Written”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review from Chris Sparkle – “Extremely Well Written”
Edinburgh Guide
“Agatha Christie would certainly enjoy this ingenious puzzle of a plot to plan the perfect murder of ‘quiet domestic interest.’”
British Theatre Guide
“Dead Herring’s In Her Defence, skillfully written by Helen Saxton, is the classic Agatha Christie murder mystery play with a wicked twist.”
Chris Sparkle
“Good fun and engrossing.”
London, 1947. Philip Mackinder is dead. His wife, Catherine, has shot him. As a court hears the evidence leading up to the murder, we witness the disintegration of the couple’s marriage and discover the real, surprising truth.
In Her Defence is an homage to Agatha Christie – a one act play with a nod to the golden age of murder mystery with a modern twist. Catherine has shot Philip, but why? His blossoming and inappropriate ‘friendship’ with a work colleague? Catherine’s bitterness at her lack of children and her husband’s marital coldness?
There’s no mystery. But is everything as it seems? You may think you are sure. You may wonder how and if she gets away with it. But will you be surprised at the truth?
Touring and Receiving
Production
Professional or Amateur companies wishing to put on a production can contact us for details on purchasing scripts. In Her Defence can be performed as a seven-hander or a three-hander depending on requirements and is ideal for festivals.
Publication
We are aiming to publish In Her Defence professionally and are in the process of talking to publishers. Follow us for updates or get in touch for more information.
EDINBURGH 2022 CAST
Helen Saxton (Catherine)
Helen trained as a theatre designer at Nottingham Trent University after which she designed numerous shows including for The King’s Head Theatre, Islington, The Old Fire Station, Oxford and The Theatre, Chipping Norton. She now runs Dead Herring, creating immersive mystery events for team building where she concentrates on writing scripts and true crime non fiction, and performing regularly. She and Pete have worked together for over fifteen years, during which they have collaborated on many productions including the award winning Richard III and numerous Dead Herring events. In Her Defence is her debut stage play and will be her first performance on stage at The Edinburgh Fringe.
Pete Watt (Philip)
Pete trained with the National Youth Theatre in London 1988-1990 and studied drama at King Alfred’s University College in 1992. Directing credits include Hamlet, Henry V, Jekyll and Hyde and a tour of Woyzeck at the New York International Fringe Festival, all for One and One Theatre. Acting credits include Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar for TMC, Claudius in Hamlet for One and One and Jesus in The Greatest Gift for Downland Millennium. For The Compton Players he has played numerous roles including Michael Starkwedder in Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest, Randle McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Richard III in their NODA award winning production directed by Helen.
