Tim Benzie, the acclaimed creator and host of Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote presents his new one-man show, a hilarious and moving exploration of the enduring appeal of murder mysteries. It’s a Mystery is currently playing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Tim is proud to bring it to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern this September.
The audience are summoned to the drawing room as Tim takes on the role of detective, examining the clues that drew him to the genre as a child, a journey from Scooby Doo to Encyclopedia Brown via German mystery-puzzle books, to eventually lapping up the entire works of Agatha Christie as a teenager.
The appeal of the genre is investigated like the mystery that it is: to discover what attracts us to the many scene/s of the crime (from quaint villages to exotic locales), why we love the appealing but frequently two-dimensional suspects, and finally how the style maybe helps us deal with the inevitability of yes, death itself.
There is a tenacious theory that in times of societal strife, murder mysteries surge in popularity, and Tim unpacks the notion via stories of his own troubled times, to determine not just why there is a detective in all of us, but ultimately what is the mystery that we’re all trying to solve.
Funny, touching and showcasing the delight in pop culture minutiae that has made Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote a cult hit, It’s a Mystery will appeal to fans of the genre and anyone who’s ever wondered whodunnit (and why).
Runtime: 70 minutes + Q&A session
Tickets: £12 all tickets. Get there for 6pm doors for your best chance for a seat.
The RVT offers bar services and capacity for standing room. NB this is a seating and standing venue.
Times: Doors open at 6:30pm
Show is at 7:30pm
End of show: 8:40pm
Q&A: 8:50pm
Age guidance: 18+
Tim Benzie is the creator/performer of Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote, touring the cricitally-acclaimed show across the UK, Ireland and Australia since 2018. An award-winning playwright, Tim has been co-writer of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern pantos since 2017 and is co-producer of the camp club night PopHorror. Once upon a time Tim played Detective Tim on the afternoon children’s programme Studio D for Disney Channel Australia. Tim is represented by The Soho Agency.