Three brand new Agatha Christie-style whodunnit afternoon teas are coming to the Everyman

The DBY cast for Murder at Hope Manor

Three brand new Agatha Christie-style murder mystery afternoon teas are coming to the Everyman so audiences can solve a whodunnit while they eat.

The experiences have been created by Becky Brooks, founder of DBY Interactive Events, and will be coming soon to Liverpool Everyman.

She launched the first afternoon teas a year ago downstairs at the theatre and they’ve proved so popular with amateur sleuths that she’s been commissioned to write more.

The three, in April, July and September, have different themes – one is on a train, another is set onboard a steamboat, and one in a theatre – but all have a traditional 1930s/40s setting and plenty of twists and turns to keep audiences guessing.

Becky says she’s loved coming up with clue-packed storylines that have people working together to crack the mystery.

“It’s great to see couples and groups of family and friends all discussing whose theory is right.

“We also we have people coming on their own to these events because they’re in the afternoon so they feel more accessible, and there’s such a big age range. Girls come with their mums and nans, and we see quite a lot of people with their partners because it’s one of those things where you can have nice food and then do something together.

Becky Brooks founder of DBY - outside Liverpool Everyman — Becky Brooks founder of DBY

“At our last show there were three couples who didn’t know each other before they came and afterwards one of the guys told me they’d had such a good time, mixing with strangers and sharing ideas, they’re all going to come again as a group of six.”

Becky, who acts in the shows as well as writing them, has been thrilled by how the concept has taken off in Liverpool.

“Everyone really enters into the spirit of it, taking notes and quizzing the characters and that’s so good to see.

“It’s great to have that reaction in the room, especially when the killer is revealed and you hear people groaning because they were wrong or going ‘oh I knew it.’ That buzz they get when they get it right is awesome.

“As a writer, you can tell when a scene will work really nicely in the room and you build from that. The characters are what people invest in most, if they find a character funny or dodgy, if they think someone’s got a secret and they really want to know it, so a lot of the twists and turns are around their backstory.

The DBY cast for Murder at Hope Manor at Liverpool Everyman

“I also get a feel for what people have enjoyed from previous shows – they always love it when there’s a real twist like an accent gets dropped or a relationship is revealed.

“Sometimes I write something early on and almost forget about it, then it’s so exciting to hear an audience member get it, or they ask you a question and you know they’re absolutely on the money because they’ve followed all the clues.

“At the same time I love it when you have an audience that’s completely gone a different way, ended up down a wrong rabbit hole, and then you see the penny drop. People can be so adamant about their ideas and arguing with each other on the tables.”

In addition to the afternoon teas, DBY also does evening events at the Everyman around Halloween and Christmas and the intimate space is perfect for their interactive productions, giving the audience a chance to collaborate.

The company is celebrating its 10^th birthday this summer and Becky says she enjoys working with a versatile local cast.

“All the actors I’ve worked with for the last 10 years have got a feel for the style of it,” she adds. “It can be quite intense staying in character and being interrogated by the audience, they’ve got to really know what they’re talking about and think on their feet, but the cast is so talented, they always give it their all, so I’m very lucky.”