Charlotte Colley sits down with actor Joshua Welch, who takes on the role of Eddie Harper in the upcoming theatre production of Murder Trial Tonight 3 – an immersive courtroom drama where the audience plays judge and jury.
What can people expect from an interactive theatre show like this?
They can expect to be part of the play – the audience acts as the jury and must deliver the correct verdict, so they’re not just passive spectators. They have to really pay attention and, at the end, decide whether this man goes to prison for life or not – a big responsibility within the context of the play.
They will watch a film and the entire court case live on stage before deliberating among themselves. They’ll then use their phones to vote guilty or not guilty, and the ending of the play will completely change depending on their decision. The audience is constantly involved as we try to steer the verdict in the direction our character wants it to go.
What storylines does the show follow?
The character on trial is Dale Irvin, accused of murdering his wife, who was found strangled on her doorstep. Throughout the trial, you’ll meet witnesses testifying about their marriage. The first half presents the prosecution and witnesses arguing that Dale is capable of the crime, but in the second half, new evidence may make you think twice about what you’ve heard. The court case unravels possible motives and reasons why he may – or may not – have killed his wife.
What was the inspiration behind the show? Is it about breathing new life into theatre?
Definitely. What’s so great about it is that it brings a whole new audience into the theatre – people who wouldn’t normally go. It’s been heavily targeted at true crime fans, particularly those who watch Netflix documentaries but don’t necessarily see theatre as something for them. This show is changing that and bringing a fresh demographic into theatres across the country.
The company was founded by former barristers, and all three iterations of Murder Trial Tonight have been inspired by real-life cases, with verbatim material from court proceedings dramatised for the stage. The show really asks: how can we be sure of anything? It highlights how easily legal cases can go the wrong way and how difficult it is to uncover the truth when you’re presented with two conflicting narratives – both of which could be completely believable.
Why are theatre events like this such a unique experience?
Theatre is always a unique experience – whatever happens on the night exists only in the memories of those who were there, unlike TV. It’s live, it’s fleeting, and it’s never quite the same twice. But this show is particularly unique because there’s nothing else quite like it – the audience plays a crucial role in deciding the outcome of the play.
Murder Trial Tonight 3 heads to Sheffield City Hall on 30 April. Tickets (£30) are available from murdertrialtonight.com.
