The Adelaide Insider

There’s nothing quite like revisiting a childhood favourite and finding it reimagined with fresh theatrical flair. Cluedo arrives at Her Majesty’s Theatre with a confident sense of mischief, transforming the familiar whodunnit into a riotous evening of live comedy, mischief and mayhem. Drawing inspiration from the beloved Hasbro board game and its 1985 Paramount Pictures cult film counterpart, this production leans wholeheartedly into its own absurdity, inviting the audience not just to solve a mystery, but to revel in the chaos along the way.

Audiences are whisked back to 1949, where Boddy Manor stands brimming with secrets. Six strangers arrive under assumed aliases, each harbouring a past they would rather keep buried. Their mysterious host wastes no time in revealing that blackmail is the order of the evening, and before long, murder follows close behind. What unfolds is less a careful investigation and more a gleefully unhinged farce. Accusations fly, bodies fall, and doors slam with clockwork precision. The script barrels forward at remarkable speed, piling joke upon joke while the ensemble cast navigates an intricate web of timing, movement and escalating absurdity.

This is very much an ensemble triumph, with each performer carving out a distinctly unique stage persona for themselves. Olivia Deeble brings a sly sensuality to Miss Scarlett, playing every suggestive moment with a knowing wink. Adam Murphy relishes Colonel Mustard’s bluster, pairing bravado with razor-sharp comic timing.
David James lends Professor Plum an assured authority, while Genevieve Lemon delivers a delightfully outrageous Mrs Peacock, brimming with theatrical flair. Rachael Beck offers a clever contrast as Mrs White, her measured, controlled performance cutting cleanly through the surrounding frenzy. Laurence Boxhall proves a standout as Reverend Green, building to a wonderfully elastic display of physical comedy in the final moments.

At the centre of it all is Grant Piro as Wadsworth, whose relentless energy drives the entire production. His rapid-fire recap sequence is a feat of precision and stamina, earning well-deserved applause. The supporting cast add further layers of comic texture, with Lib Campbell delightfully irreverent as French maid Yvette, and Octavia Barron-Martin as Cook and Nat Jobe as Bobby delivering perfectly pitched supporting turns alongside Joshua Monaghan, whose Mr Boddy certainly leaves a lasting impression.

The real scene-stealer here might just be the set. Designed by James Browne, it functions as a living puzzle box, with rooms sliding in and out as if someone is rearranging the board mid-game. The effect captures both the nostalgia of the original game and the eerie grandeur of a Gothic mansion. Lighting works in tandem with this design to guide the audience through the mayhem. Lighting designer Jasmine Rizk sets the tone from the moment you walk in, bathing the theatre in a moody, stormy glow. Throughout the show,subtle shifts in lighting enhance the comedic rhythm, sharpen punchlines and occasionally add a bit of extra drama when needed, without ever stealing the spotlight.

Costumes, also by the ever talented James Browne, strike a nice balance between period detail and theatrical fun. Bold silhouettes and playful detailing ensure each character feels larger than life, with standout pieces adding visual flair without tipping into caricature. Director Luke Joslin keeps the pace brisk and the action tight, while movement director Danielle Evrat ensures the physical comedy lands cleanly. There is a lot going on, but it rarely feels messy. Backed by Sean Peter’s sound design, the show finds a strong rhythm, with well-timed musical accents and bursts of movement giving the audience a chance to catch their breath before the next flurry of action. The result is a production that feels meticulously crafted yet effortlessly energetic.

Fast, funny and packed with energy, Cluedo delivers a riotous night out that does not take itself too seriously. if you come in expecting a tightly wound murder mystery, you may find yourself barking up the wrong tree. This is not about carefully placing clues and solving the puzzle before the final reveal. It is about enjoying the mess, the mayhem and the sheer silliness of it all. What this production understands is that Cluedo works best when it embraces its own game-like nature. It knows the rules, plays with them, and occasionally throws them out altogether for the sake of a good laugh. The result is a fast, funny night at the theatre that does not take itself too seriously. It may not leave you feeling like a master detective, but it will keep you laughing and guessing right up to the final reveal, all the while having a very good time trying to keep up. And really, that is the only verdict that matters.

Cluedo
Dates: Friday 27 March – Saturday 4 April 2026
Location: Her Majesty’s Theatre: 58 Grote Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Rating: ★★★★★