Two young people from Dorchester are launching their own theatre company with a brand-new murder mystery play to be performed this January.

Inspired by Mischief Theatre’s Play That Goes Wrong, From the Top! explores a murder at the esteemed house of Monty Grey, where the heir to his inheritance is about to be revealed.

It will be performed in the county town next week.

However this is not your typical murder mystery.

The Irresponsible Theatre Company presents a play-within-a-play, where things continually become more chaotic and go wrong throughout the performance.

The amateur company aims to challenge audiences’ perspectives on live theatre through light-hearted plays ensuring the audience enjoys it collaboratively with the cast.

Dorset Echo:

It was created and directed by directed by Herbie Hudson, the company owner, and written by Ella Ritsema.

Both were students at the Thomas Hardye School, studying performing arts at A Level, as well as participating in many school productions and being a part of Dorchester Youth Theatre from early ages.

Having just finished his A-Levels, 18-year-old Herbie is planning to go into theatre making to expand the theatre company in the future with more plays like From the Top!

He said: "I’ve always wanted to do a show like this. I’ve been doing drama and performing arts my whole life, but this show has in the works for quite a while.

"I want to take this company further, to be in a position where I can have a professional company touring the UK but on the other side go to schools to do workshops and include more people in this style of theatre.”

Ella, also 18, is currently on her gap year and looking to study creative writing at Bath Spa University next year as well as pursuing a career as a playwright.

Dorset Echo:

She added: “I’ve been a part of Dorchester Youth Theatre since I was seven so I’m familiar with theatre and plays. That combined with a love of writing makes me want to do playwrighting and I always love writing comedy because it’s so fun. 

If people want to watch something really fun, light-hearted and just a nice detachment for everyday life, come and watch. It’s acted by some amazing young people from the area and it’s something me and Herbie are really proud of creating.”

From the Top! will be performed at the Dorchester Corn Exchange on Thursday, January 11 and Friday, January 12.

Tickets for Friday’s show have sold out however, tickets for Thursday are still available to buy on the Dorchester arts website at £10 per person: https://dorchesterarts.savoysystems.co.uk/DorchesterArts.dll/TSelectItems.waSelectItemsPrompt.TcsWebMenuItem_1335.TcsWebTab_1336.TcsProgramme_2168039