The Other Side of Murder
starring Rufus Hound and Susie Blake
Carla Mendonça – best known for Coronation Street, My Parents are Aliens and So Awkward, as well as her stage work with companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Oxford Stage Company – will join the cast of The Other Side of Murder, a wickedly entertaining new comedy thriller from Torben Betts, writer of the smash-hit plays Murder at Midnight and Murder in the Dark. The co-production between Original Theatre and Theatr Clwyd, will embark on an extensive UK and Ireland tour from Autumn 2026 into Spring 2027.
Carla joins the previously announced cast, starring as Susannah alongside Rufus Hound (One Man, Two Guvnors, Wind in the Willows, The Mesmerist) as TV medium Darius Divine and Susie Blake (Victoria Wood, Coronation Street) as Miriam. Aisha Jawando (Hamilton the Musical, Tina: The Musical) plays Laura, Beth Lilly (The Play That Goes Wrong, Grantchester) plays Jen, and Andy McLeod (Murder at Midnight, Cosmic) plays Jason/understudy Darius. Completing the cast are understudies Maddy Banks, Oliver Byng and Sarah Lawn.
When celebrated TV medium Darius Divine, host of hit light-entertainment show The Other Side, plans a cosy family dinner, he expects awkward small talk. He doesn’t expect his pregnant lover, his Gilbert and Sullivan obsessed mother-in-law, or a night of ghostly visitations and explosive revelations. As dinner burns and tensions rise, the line between performance and reality begins to shatter. Secrets surface. Jealousies ignite. And a final twist lands that no one will see coming.
Funny, shocking and deliciously unsettling, this is a wild theatrical ride that will have audiences laughing one minute and gasping the next.
The Other Side of Murder is presented by the award-winning producers Original Theatre (Birdsong, ART, Being Mr Wickham) in association with Theatr Clwyd.
The creative team includes Director Philip Franks, Writer Torben Betts, Designer Colin Falconer, Lighting Designer Jason Taylor, Sound Designer and Composer Max Pappenheim, Illusion Designer John Bulleid, Casting Director Emma Sylvester and Associate Director Joshua Miles. The Production Manager is Brian Watson, the Costume Supervisor is Chrissy Maddison and the Props Supervisor is Katie Balmforth.
The Other Side of Murder play the Palace Theatre, Southend from 9-14 November 2026.
For more information, and to book tickets, visit www.southendtheatres.org.uk. Age guidance 14+
