BATH’S own New Old Friends theatre group look to have scored another smash hit with their latest comedy thriller Crimes on Centre Court.

 

Their new production received its world premiere at the Theatre Royal Bath on Tuesday (May 24) ahead of a 2022 UK tour and looks set to entertain audiences nationwide.

This time, the action plays out on the courts of Whombledun Tennis Club’s International Invitation Tennis Tournament with a liberal and cleverly constructed dose of mirth, murder and mayhem.

Victims are murdered in a dastardly plot to wreck the tournament with the body count up to four by the time the action climaxes with the whodunnit reveal at the very end.

Based on a story from New Old Friends’ podcast (number 2 in the iTunes fiction chart), this hilariously inventive, new comedy thriller serves countless characters boasting such names as Hugh Knows, Notta Damclu, Perry Pink and Owen Owens.

As ever with New Old Friends, the action and script rely heavily on quick-fire costume changes and lightning wit as the brand-new murder mystery unfolds court-side.

Lord Knows, the chair of The Whombledun International Invitational Tennis Tournament, has died and his son Hugh, is suspicious. The police won’t take the case so Hugh calls in Perry Pink & Penny Pink, private investigators.

The multi-tasking four-strong cast of this new comedy caper are all returning New Old Friends performers and it would be grossly unfair to single out an individual performance.

Kirsty Cox plays the roles of Wendy Weaver, Ingrid Ergätson, Notta Damclu and Jean Samson, while Sedona Rose appears as Penny Pink and Erica Wise.

Ben Thornton appears as Perry Pink, Lord Knows, Ivan Borodl and Owen Owens and Emile Clarke plays the roles of Hugh Knows, Helmut Hachenburg, Fred Digby and Jon Samson.

All four cast members also perform additional cameo roles in the production but are at their funniest as the ‘singing hedge’ barbershop quartet, Harry the Hedgend, Sister Hedge, Sedgey McSedgeface and Benson Hedge.

New Old Friends have built a national reputation with their wildly inventive set-pieces, twisty plots and commitment to unadulterated entertainment.

This deucey summertime treat should rally the spirits and leave audiences wanting a second serve-ing of the volley of gags and visual delights. I certainly left the theatre laughing.

Written and directed by Feargus Woods Dunlop, Crimes on Centre Court is on at the Theatre Royal Bath to Saturday (May 28) before touring to theatres nationwide this autumn. Catch it if you can.

Tickets are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk