This murder mystery play took place at the Newdigate Village Hall on the 6th May 2017. The capacity audience, many of whom dressed in 1920s costume, enjoyed drinks and fish and chips as they settled down to work out who killed ‘Piggy’ Dean.
THE SET
A clip from a rehearsal:
THE CAST
SYNOPSIS
Our murder mystery play is set in Newdigate in the 1920s in the Village Shop. The store was at the heart of the village and sold everything from food and drink to tools and clothes. It wasn’t easy for the villagers to travel elsewhere so they were totally reliant upon the shop for all their supplies. But there was competition developing, and Mr. Dean was not happy.
Most of the characters in the play actually existed although this story is entirely fictional and the highly respected Mr. Dean, in reality, was definitely NOT murdered.
Produced from an idea written by John Callcut.
THE REAL PEOPLE
Alfred ‘Piggy’ Dean
The Dean family ran the shop from the 1890s right through to the 1950s.
Margaret Lucy Tyler
The Tyler family lived in Highgate but came down to their farm, High Trees, for the summer. Miss Tyler was a renowned homoeopathic doctor.
Walter Carpenter
Walter Carpenter was the baker; his bakery was beside Deans’ shop. It closed in the 1930s and was removed to the Weald and Downland Living Museum in the late 1980s. Re-erection is due to commence later this year. (reconstruction completed in 2019)
Mrs Ellen Janson
Mrs Janson lived at Newdigate Place and was the matriarch of the village.
Lady Abdy
Lady Abdy lived at The Elms on the Rusper Road and was a fashionable lady with grand ideas. She had plans for establishing a regular plane service to and from Paris on fields behind her house.
P.C. Tom Boult
Local bobby who knows everyone
Bertie Hills
Bertie’s father was bailiff for the Tyler family at High Trees Farm. He served in the First World War with his brother, who was killed. Cider and chutney was made at Cudworth at an establishment set up by Colonel French to provide employment for ex-servicemen.
Mary Weller
Mary Weller lived at Church Cottages and had been widowed twice. She also lost two sons in World War One.
Trow family
The Trow family was one of many Newdigate families who had lived in the village for generations.
‘Dawsey’
As a young man, George Burrows (or ‘Dawsey’ as he was known) was gored by a wild boar and his mind became unhinged. Upon his death he was found to have five hats on his head. As his hair grew through one he simply wore a new one over the old.
WHO KILLED ‘PIGGY’ DEAN ? – THE SUSPECTS
- Walter Carpenter –Treated badly by Mr. Dean and lost his livelihood.
- Lady Abdy – Wants Mr. Dean out of the way so that she can set up a shopping mall at her airport. Already in league with Mr. Whittingham.
- Bertie Hills – Drinking too much and has no respect for Mr. Dean who only saw garrison duty throughout WW1 and still showed off his medals.
- Mary Weller – Twice widowed, lost two sons in WW1 – now she has been sacked.
- Mr. Trow – A somewhat ‘agricultural’ father, very protective towards his children.
- ‘Dawsey’ – Rejected by everyone, especially Mr. Dean.