Dear Editor

On Sunday we had the pleasure of dropping in to see The Drama Company Performers in dress rehearsal for their murder mystery play ‘Murder in Scarlett’ and have to report that the opening scene was utterly charming - the only word to describe it - as this company of young performers set the scene in Edwardian ballroom style before segueing straight into the murder of Lord Arthur Black.

This is a production of great originality, breaking the mould of any previous production at the Larruperz Centre by introducing us to ‘theatre in the round’ with the on-stage setting extending down into the Paxton Hall auditorium.

The predominant colour scheme is dramatic in scarlet and black and the cleverly designed lighting makes the most of opportunities to create a sense of atmosphere for the ‘goings-on’ in this murder mystery which the audience will be asked to solve as the play progresses.

The confident stage presence of the young performers we saw was matched by excellent delivery with good period characterisation. We can’t wait to see the finished production when it opens at the end of the week.

Devised and written by company leaders Julie Church and Zoe Hutton, ‘Murder in Scarlett’ opens on Friday March 8th and runs for three performances ending in the matinee on Sunday 10th March.

Brian Jackson

Ross-on-Wye