Page 12 - Demo

12 Phonebox Magazine | December 2025A suitcase full of cash, a stash of deadly weapons, and an infamous unsolved murder%u2026 what could possibly go wrong? Actor Jason Durr explains all to Phonebox%u2019s Tom Johnston.It%u2019s New Year%u2019s Eve in a quiet corner of Kent and a killer is in the house. But who is it? Could it be Jonny %u2018The Cyclops%u2019 %u2013 a notorious gangster, his glamorous wife, a triggerhappy sidekick, his mum, her carer, a vicar who%u2019s hiding something, or a nervous burglar dressed as a clown. One house. Seven suspects. And a murder at midnight. It%u2019s a murder mystery with a diff erence. And it%u2019s hilarious, says its star Jason Durr.Best known for a glittering TV career, which included Heartbeat and Casualty, Jason has more lately been wowing packed bouses in theatres up and down the country in smash hit shows. He was in Milton Keynes last year with Cluedo 2.This time around it%u2019s Northampton%u2019s Royal & Derngate and the wonderful, witty Murder at Midnight. Written by the acclaimed Torben Betts, Murder at Midnight is a gripping murder mystery fi lled with twists, chilling suspense and wickedly dark humour. And it%u2019s guaranteed to keep you guessing until the fi nal stroke of 12.Blending razor-sharp wit with chilling suspense, the story shows how even the best-laid plans can unravel spectacularly when the wrong people are in the wrong place at the wrong time. %u201cIt%u2019s a brand new comedy-thriller from a great writer,%u201d says Jason. %u201cA follow-up to his play Murder in the Dark. It%u2019s a blend of wit and murder mystery. Throw in a suitcase full of cash, a bunch of ravenous dogs, a chainsaw and an unsolved murder, and what%u2019s not to like?%u201dJason%u2019s character %u2018The Cyclops%u2019 is a one-eyed drug smuggler living in a luxury mansion. But his past is catching up with him.%u201cEveryone in the play is hiding something, not least Jonny,%u201d says Jason. %u201cIt%u2019s a heady blend, and I can%u2019t wait to bring Jonny to life. If Quentin Tarantino was to write a play, this would be it. And I can guarantee it will keep the audience guessing almost until the curtain comes down.%u201dJason is joined by TV stalwarts Susie Blake, of The Victoria wood Show fame, Max Bowden, best known for his portrayal of Ben Mitchell in EastEnders, and Katie McGlynn from Waterloo Road and Coronation Street. Jason%u2019s delighted about that.%u201cIt%u2019s a fantastic company, we%u2019re really blessed. When you get to work with people with naturally funny bones it%u2019s just such a delight,%u201d he says. %u201cWe%u2019ve got a great support cast as well, an outstanding bunch of actors. I think one of the challenges will be that we might have too much fun, and I%u2019ll be struggling not to laugh the whole time.%u201dThe Northampton shows, in February, are part of a big UK tour that continues well into 2026. But that%u2019s no problem for Jason who loves life on the road.%u201cI do, and I know a lot of the venues we%u2019re visiting very well,%u201d he adds. %u201cThey%u2019re just right for the show, intimate enough that the audience will feel they%u2019re really part of the show. I%u2019m looking forward to seeing how audiences in diff erent parts of the country react and keeping them on the edges of their seats. I%u2019m really excited to get out there.%u201dMurder at Midnight is at the Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton, 16th-21st February.AT THE MIDNIGHT HOURwith thanks to Pamela Raith for the production images