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Park Theatre’s Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 returns with Wild West makeover and star guest sheriffs

Park Theatre’s Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 returns with Wild West makeover and star guest sheriffs
Park Theatre’s Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 returns with Wild West makeover and star guest sheriffs

Park Theatre has announced the return of its fundraising comedy hit Whodunnit [Unrehearsed], with the fourth instalment running from 11ᵗʰ May to 27ᵗʰ June 2026. This time, the murder mystery heads to the Wild West, transforming the entire venue into the fictional frontier town of Graveside.

The popular format remains intact – at each performance, a different celebrity guest takes on the central role of Sheriff, completely unrehearsed. Armed only with an earpiece feeding them lines in real time, the guest sheriff must attempt to solve the murder while navigating increasingly chaotic events. Sir Ian McKellen will once again lend his voice to proceedings.

Among the returning celebrity guest sheriffs confirmed so far are Gillian Anderson, Emma Thompson, Adrian Dunbar, Jim Broadbent, Sandi Toksvig, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Hugh Bonneville, with further names to be announced.

The 2026 edition marks the most ambitious version yet. For the first time, the production will take over the entire building, from the street outside to the bars, foyers and both auditoria. The exterior will be reimagined as a Western streetscape, while interior spaces will be dressed with saloon-style décor. Park90 will become The Last Chance Saloon, offering themed drinks, live music and roaming characters for selected ticket holders.

Inside the Park200 auditorium, seating will be partially reconfigured to include cabaret-style tables, bringing audiences closer to the action. The fourth wall is deliberately porous, with audience members cast as townsfolk, congregants or courtroom spectators as the story unfolds. A live house band and musical numbers are woven throughout, and select tickets even allow audience members to take on onstage bartender roles.

Co-writer and director Jez Bond said: “For 2026, we wanted to honour the importance of this fundraiser by going all in – turning the entire theatre into a living, breathing Wild West town and inviting audiences to play along. No two performances will ever be the same.”

Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 is a key fundraiser for Park Theatre, which receives no regular public subsidy. Proceeds support the running of the venue, new writing and community programmes. Further celebrity guest sheriffs will be announced ahead of the run.

The editorial unit
Photos: Courtesy of Park Theatre

Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 is at Park Theatre from 11th May until 27th June 2026. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.

Watch the trailer for Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 at Park Theatre here:

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