Entertaining Murder
by Chris Burgess
Upstairs at the Gatehouse
23 Apr – 10 May 2026
Love, lies, lust… and murder.
In 1922, the sensational trial of Edith Thompson and her young lover, Freddy Bywaters, captivated the British public. Edith’s husband, Percy, had been brutally stabbed to death on his way home from the theatre — but what part, if any, had Edith played in his murder?
At the heart of the case were 64 passionate love letters written by Edith to Freddy. In them, she fantasised about escaping her unhappy marriage and discussed various ways her husband might die. But there was no evidence that Edith had been directly involved in the fatal attack. Nevertheless, both she and Freddy were convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
Now, more than a century later, Entertaining Murder revisits this extraordinary true story through the eyes of those who knew Edith and the evidence that sealed her fate.
A musical drama of forbidden love, obsession, murder and the sensationalism of the courtroom and press, it asks a disturbing question: was Edith Thompson a murderer, or was she condemned as much for her behaviour as for the crime itself?
And perhaps the most uncomfortable question of all: why are we so entertained by murder?
Synopsis
Reviews
“Chillingly Executed. Contains some absolute bangers of tunes all sung perfectly by the cast.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (theQueerGB)
“delivered with empathy and sympathy…You leave not with answers, but with a feeling. And sometimes, that’s stronger”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (London Theatre Reviews)
“a gripping, powerhouse piece of theatre”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Pink Prince Theatre)
“The score is superb, the cast is wickedly talented, and Upstairs at the Gatehouse remains the best pub theatre in London. Do anything (not that) for a ticket.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Musical Theatre Review)
“All the trimmings of a classic historical musical: finger-snapping numbers, goosebump-inducing ballads, jazz hands and a… real life murder case?”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (A Youngi’sh Perspective)
“Slick, stylish and emotionally charged”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Ovation Radio)
“a brilliant and thoughtfully staged production, with a talented cast who each deliver strong performances throughout”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (North West End UK)
“Compelling and entertaining: rich in interesting details, well-constructed, directed, staged and performed”
(The Reviews Hub)
“Musical Director Aaron Clingham’s orchestral arrangement makes one keyboard sound like a full-sized orchestra, lush and cinematic at times”
(Everything Theatre)
CAST
Edith Thompson: Daisy Snelson
Freddy Bywaters: Dominic Sullivan
Avis Graydon: Sue Kelvin
Young Avis Graydon: Dora Gee
Percy Thompson and various other roles: Alex Cosgriff
CREATIVES
Book, Music & Lyrics; Director: Chris Burgess
Musical Director & Orchestrations: Aaron Clingham
Choreographer: Robbie O’Reilly
Lighting Designer: Richard Lambert
Costume Designer: Carla Joy Evans
Production: LAMBCO Productions
