The murder of tennis queen Daphne Winingham is needing to be solved and average Illawarra folk are being called upon to be like Sherlock Holmes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Suspects will be interrogated via Zoom while detectives sip Gatsby-era cocktails in Game Set Murder, a virtual "whodunnit experience" run by the Eaton Gorge Theatre Company.
"It's just a matter of giving people an opportunity to have a laugh with us, because we really miss it," said Juliet Scrine, CEO of the theatre company. "It's that whole human interaction and just being able to have fun with your friends and have a laugh."
The first murder mystery event is being played out on Friday with local actors transporting participants to the NSW Women's Tennis Tournament in 1923, where dear Daphne is found strangled to death with her own unstrung tennis racquet.
"We wrote the murder mystery some years ago for Ravensthorpe as a live event so we already had the story," Mrs Scrine said. "The performance is extremely interactive, and the audience can choose to be as involved as they please."
The story is told by a troupe of seven local actors who appear on the screen when it is time for them to be interviewed.
Ian McColm plays Doorknock Holmes the head detective and assists the audience by leading the questions to the suspects.
Couples, singles or families can join the first murder mystery event on Friday August 13 for $25 per group, though NSW Discover vouchers can still be used to cover the cost.
Mrs Scrine said the company will be hosting more as a way to bring a smile to people during a tough time, as well as corporate events to bring some fun to workplaces.
Meanwhile, EGTC has made the heartbreaking decision to let go of their warehouse and costume hire business in Woonona as trade failed to get back to normal after the initial COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
They are currently selling their retro and vintage wares plus costumes via an Etsy store online.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.