Students uncover clues on Murder Mystery Night to celebrate opening of 1920s-set Hollywood flick

‘Whodunnit?’ was the question on everyone’s mind on the night of Friday 3rd November, when Drama students at Walsall College held a Murder Mystery Night to celebrate the first screening of ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ at the Light Cinema.

Commemorating the release of an Agatha Christie adaptation set in the early 20th century, students were dressed in their best 1920s outfits when they acted out the event at the Light Cinema in Walsall.

The Murder Mystery Night told the comical tale of two detectives, Agatha and Christopher, who were eager to identify the culprit behind the murder of the cinema’s projectionist.

Customers took part in the investigation, helping Agatha and Christopher to uncover the murder by interviewing each of the suspects, who were also acted by the college’s drama students.

The event was produced and directed by Media HND students Rebecca Duckerin and Molly Williams.

Year 2 Drama students Conor Price and Oliver Jones played the two detectives, donning costumes supplied by the drama department. The event also had the support of other HNC and Level 3 Media students who not only took up some of the suspect roles in the evening’s events but also helped film and photograph the event.

The night was also one of freebies for customers wearing 1920/30s fancy dress to watch Murder on the Orient Express. Visitors were invited to wear flapper dresses, vintage suits and cloche hats to get their free box of popcorn!

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ is an adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel of the same name, in which a detective uncovers the murder of a fellow passenger on a train.

David Hasting, Lecturer in Media, said: “Rebecca and Molly planned a very steady production that was a great success with both the cinema and its audiences!

They worked tirelessly to make the event a complete success, and I’m not only proud of them both, but also the amazing media students who helped support them as well as Conor and Oliver who are fantastic actors and had a great time interacting with the audience!”

Management at the Light Cinema were thrilled with feedback they received from customers about the Murder Mystery Night. Due to the night success, they are keen to hold similar events in the future.

Joanna Twardowska, General Manager at the Light Cinema said: “The event was great! We had so many customer tell us that the event really enhanced their cinema experience, and asked if more events like Murder Mystery Night would happen again.

We are very keen for more events to occur in the future, with differing themes to accommodate future Hollywood film releases.”