Review: Midsomer Murders - The Killings at Badger’s Drift (Norwich Theatre)

The long-running and much loved murder mystery TV series Midsomer Murders recreated its quaint rural village setting on stage, as writer Guy Unsworth adapted the Caroline Graham book that kicked off the first of 25 series and 130-odd episodes, The Killings at Badger’s Drift.

It begins with spinster Emily Simpson being found dead and her charmingly batty, forthright friend Lucy Bellringer trying to convince DCI Tom Barnaby that there's something more sinister at play. Barnaby, along with his junior colleague DS Gavin Troy, investigate a handful of local residents and along the way uncover some startling secrets that may well be linked to the crime that Mrs Bellringer believes has occurred.

Leading the investigation is Daniel Casey as Barnaby. If his name is familiar, it's because he played the original DS Troy in the TV series almost 30 years ago. And it's clear there was probably no better person to fill the shoes of the iconic character, as while he certainly isn't impersonating the legendary John Nettles with whom he worked for many years, it's clear he's inherited his trademark warmth and gentle authority.

Playing Troy is James Bradwell, and he does so with a similar wide eyed bewilderment and enjoyable over-eager energy that Casey gave us on screen all those years ago.

DCI Barnaby (Daniel Casey) investigates

Surrounding them is a variety of familiar and eccentric characters - a doctor, his shy nerdy daughter, a rich, recently widowed man marrying a much younger woman, the waster artist, and a busybody, nosey neighbour to name but a few. These dozen or so additional roles were brilliantly brought to life by just a few supporting cast members, in often quite convincing disguises. One of the couple sitting behind me refused to believe that the actor playing the male doctor was also the female nosey neighbour, even when I tried to settle the argument by showing him the programme! 

While the production delivers exactly what fans of the show would be hoping for - and that's no bad thing - there's also some wonderful theatrical flourishes to inject a bit of stage sparkle such as brilliant multi-roling actors, a fantastical dream sequence, and the impressively choreographed and seamless scene changes.

It had been many years since I watched an episode on telly, but the second the familiar soundtrack for the opening title sequence began, I was instantly transported back, and I was thoroughly engrossed in a great story full of charm, humour, and a little bit of murder to boot.

Midsomer Murders - The Killings at Badger’s Drift continues at Norwich Theatre until 21 March. The tour continues for another few months, and heads back to East Anglia as it plays at the Cambridge Arts Theatre from 21-25 April.