Our next production is an exciting one as it’s a sequel to the successful ‘Murder By The Book’ from January 2023, with a new title called ‘Always Listen To Your Nose‘, written by our very own Alys Codd, who will also be directing it.
We’ll bring it to our Mortimer stage in March 2025 with show nights of the 7th, 8th, 14th, and 15th. To confirm, this is a change from our usual Jan/May/Oct schedule, with no production upcoming for January.
Anyone who would like to audition for a part please join us on Monday 25th November at 7.30pm at St John’s Hall, Mortimer. So we can have a rough idea of numbers please let us know if you intend to come along, or if you are interested but not free at that time please get in touch at info@mortimer-dramatic.org.
Please note that all those involved in the March 2025 show will need to enrol in membership for 2024/25 before roles can be accepted; those who join will be eligible for all other shows and activities for the remainder of the season!
Synopsis
‘Always Listen To Your Nose‘ is a cosy comedy murder mystery, expected to be presented as a dinner theatre, and sees the reappearance of Inspector Grim, accompanied by a cast of suitably comic/eccentric characters
The setting is Shepford Underhill, a small village in Midshire, not far from Oxford, just before the First World War.
The body of retired Professor Julian Birch-Lawton is found late one afternoon in his living room at Forsythia Cottage. He has been clubbed to death with his own poker!
Newly-promoted Sergeant Darius Flintlock investigates the crime, aided by his assistant, Constable Peter Platt, and his uncle, Detective Chief Inspector Hezekiah Grim (retired).
Act One shows the events leading up to the discovery of the victim’s body, and Acts Two and Three show the course of the investigation and the questioning of the suspects.
Characters (in order of appearance)
- DETECTIVE CHIEF INSPECTOR GRIM, retired police detective now living in Shepford Underhill
- PERDITA NIMBLE, housekeeper to professor
- GEORGINA WILLOWFEATHER, village
schoolteacher - JULIAN BIRCH-LAWTON, retired professor
- SISTER ELDITH THURSTON, district nurse
- ROISIN STEEPLE, vicar’s wife
- REVEREND JACK STEEPLE, vicar of St. Ethelburgha at Shepford Underhill
- CONSTABLE PETER PRATT, based at Shepford Underhill
- SERGEANT DARIUS FLINTLOCK, newly-promoted to be in charge at Shepford Underhill, and nephew of DCI Grim
This play offers great opportunities for involvement in all aspects of creating theatre. We will need set designers and builders, costume enthusiasts, lighting and sound support, performers, stage crew, front of house team, set dressers, and more… and, of course, lots of support getting the word around so we can fill our hall with excited audience members.
So, the big question….do we have what it takes?
Step one. To find out if we have enough performers interested in this show we will be holding auditions and have the date for your diaries at the top of this email. Please pass on the word to any budding actors you know!
If you are interested in being part of this show in any other way and would like us to contact you with further information after auditions please let us know at: info@mortimer-
Should we not attract enough actors throughout this audition opportunity we will look for alternative shows with cast sizes relevant to turnout. If you are interested please make sure we have visibility of you!
Please note that all those involved in the March 2025 show will need to enrol in membership for 2024/25 before roles can be accepted; those who join will be eligible for all other shows and activities for the remainder of the season!