Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger's Drift review – TV detective adaptation is occasionally lethal

The long-running ITV series 'Midsomer Murders' has been adapted into a theatrical production, with writer-director Guy Unsworth tackling Caroline Graham's source novel, 'The Killings at Badger's Drift'. This stage adaptation boasts an entertaining cast of seven actors playing trios of suspects/victims, who engage in witty banter and playful costuming. The performance takes inspiration from the TV series, but also subverts it with clever wordplay and clever allusions.

As the production explores themes of cultural sensitivity and community tensions, Unsworth tackles issues that are central to both crime fiction and British theatre. In this adaptation, a horticulturist is found dead in her kitchen, leading DCI Barnaby on an investigation into the village's eccentric inhabitants.

Fans of 'Midsomer Murders' will find plenty of familiar territory here, but also be treated to clever jokes and unexpected twists that play with the conventions of both the show and theatre. The production pokes fun at itself, cleverly winking at viewers who are used to the antics of DCI Barnaby.

One possible reading of this adaptation is as a way to reinvigorate crime fiction in British theatre, using genre tropes to subvert expectations and create something new. With its unique blend of wit, wordplay, and cross-dressed characters, 'The Killings at Badger's Drift' promises to be an unforgettable theatrical experience for fans of the show and newcomers alike.

As part of the long-running touring theatre productions of popular TV shows, this production is a must-see for those who enjoy clever adaptations and British theatre. If you don't watch 'Midsomer Murders', then don't miss out on seeing this adaptation – but if you're already a fan of the show, it's a great reason to book your tickets immediately.
 
I'm so stoked they're doing a stage version of Midsomer Murders 🎭! I love how they've added some new twists and jokes to make it fresh for fans of the show. It's like a fun play on the original, with all the witty banter and suspects we know and love. I'm curious to see how they're tackling themes of cultural sensitivity and community tensions in this production 🤔. A horticulturist getting killed off in her kitchen? That sounds like so much fun! I'd definitely want to check it out, even if I've never watched the TV show before 😄.
 
🤔 I think this theatrical production is gonna be a game-changer for British theatre! The way they've taken the familiar world of 'Midsomer Murders' and turned it into something fresh with clever jokes and unexpected twists... that's just genius 🎉. And I love how they're poking fun at themselves, winking at fans who know DCI Barnaby's antics all too well 😂. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we know you've seen this before, but trust us, it's gonna be different." Plus, the themes of cultural sensitivity and community tensions are so relevant to our times 🌎. I'm definitely hyped to see this production live - who knows what kind of clever wordplay and allusions they'll have in store for us? 😃
 
🤔 The thing is, I think what's really clever about this stage adaptation is how it pokes fun at itself and the conventions of both 'Midsomer Murders' and British theatre in general. I mean, who doesn't love a good murder mystery, but by subverting expectations and adding witty banter and playful costuming, Unsworth creates something fresh and entertaining. It's like he's saying, "Hey, we know you love this show, let's play with it for a bit." And that's what makes it so delightful. The fact that it tackles themes of cultural sensitivity and community tensions is also super cool. 🎭
 
I just saw this stage production and OMG 🤯 it was so much fun! I love how they poked fun at the TV series while still keeping all the suspenseful elements that make Midsomer Murders so addictive 😂. The cast was amazing, loved how they all played with each other's characters like they were old friends 👫. And that bit where DCI Barnaby just winks at the audience 🤣 had me in stitches! What I liked most though is how they subverted expectations and took it beyond just a simple whodunit to explore these deeper themes of community and cultural sensitivity 💡.
 
I'm literally dying over here thinking about this stage adaptation 😂🎭! I mean, who wouldn't want to see DCI Barnaby and those quirky village folk up on stage? But seriously, the fact that they're poking fun at themselves is genius 💡. It's like Unsworth is saying, 'Hey, we know you love us, but let's also have a laugh at ourselves.' And can we talk about the cast of characters for a sec? Seven actors playing trios of suspects/victims? That's just masterful 🤩. I'm all about reinvigorating crime fiction in British theatre and this adaptation seems like the perfect antidote to boredom 💥. Trust me, you won't want to miss out on this one!
 
I've seen like 5 Midsomer Murders episodes in my time and I gotta say, they never fail to entertain me 🤣! But I love how this theatrical production is giving it a fresh spin. All these clever jokes and twists are gonna keep the audience on their toes for sure 😄. And I'm excited to see how the writers are tackling those themes of cultural sensitivity and community tensions in a way that's both respectful and thought-provoking 💡. It's not just about whodunit, it's about the characters and the village too! 👍
 
omg i just heard about this new stage adaptation of Midsomer Murders and I'm DYING to see it 🤣 i mean, who doesn't love John Nettles' DCI Barnaby? but seriously, the fact that they're subverting expectations and poking fun at themselves is genius 😂 i've seen some weird stuff in my time (like that one episode with the vampire killer), but this sounds like a whole new level of cleverness. and can we talk about how cool it is to see trios of suspects/victims just doing their thing on stage? like, I'd pay good money to watch that 🤑
 
You know what strikes me about this stage adaptation? It's like life is full of twists and turns, just like a good whodunit! We never know what's gonna happen next, right? But seriously, the fact that it pokes fun at itself and uses clever wordplay to subvert expectations is actually a great lesson for us as creators. Sometimes you gotta look at your own work from different angles to see where you can innovate and take risks. And who knows, we might just surprise ourselves along the way! 🤔
 
I just saw this production last week 🤩 and I'm still thinking about it... The cast was amazing! I loved how they played with the characters' relationships and backstories - it added so much depth to the story 📚. And the set design? Mind-blowing! It really transported me to that creepy village in Midsomer. But what really got me was how well the show balanced humor and suspense. I was laughing one minute and on the edge of my seat the next 😱. Overall, it's definitely a must-see for fans of British theatre and crime fiction alike! 👏
 
🎭👮‍♂️ I think its gonna be sooo funny! 🤣 DCI Barnaby is such an iconic character, its wild to see him on stage with trios of suspects/victims playing each other. I also love how they're poking fun at the show itself, it's like a wink to us fans who know the drill. 🙃 The production has some great themes about community and cultural sensitivity too, so its not just all laughs (although there will be plenty of laughs 😂).
 
Wow 🤩🎭 interesting how they're taking an old TV show and turning it into a theatrical production with all these clever twists and wordplay! I mean, a horticulturist getting killed in her kitchen? That's like something out of Midsomer Murders for sure. And the cast of seven actors playing suspects/victims is genius – it's like they're doing this crazy improv thing on stage.
 
omg I just saw this ad for the stage version of midsomer murders and I'm like totally confused 🤔 is it really gonna be that funny? I mean I've seen some of those episodes where DCI Barnaby is just so silly 😂 but I don't know if that's gonna translate to a play. And what's with all these trios of suspects/victims? isn't that just gonna get confusing 🤷‍♀️
 
🎭 I'm so hyped about this stage adaptation of 'Midsomer Murders'! It sounds like they've taken the classic TV series and turned it into something fresh & fun 🤩 Guy Unsworth is a genius for subverting expectations with clever wordplay & allusions. The cast of 7 actors playing trios of suspects/victims is pure genius 💡 I love how they're poking fun at themselves, winking at fans who know the TV show 😏 Can't wait to see this production live – it's a must-see for anyone who loves clever adaptations & British theatre 🎭 #TheatreLover #MidsomerMurdersAdaptation #StageMagic #CleverWordplay
 
omg u guys! I'm so stoked about the Midsomer Murders stage adaptation 🤩! Guy Unsworth is a genius for taking the familiar formula and turning it on its head with clever wordplay and allusions 📚. The cast sounds hilarious, playing trios of suspects/victims who are basically just a bunch of quirky British characters 😂. I love how they're poking fun at themselves and the show's tropes – it's like they're winking at us, the fans 💁‍♀️. As someone who's been glued to their screens watching Barnaby solve crimes for years, I'm excited to see what they've come up with 📺. It's great that they're using genre tropes to subvert expectations and create something new – can't wait to see it live! 🎭
 
omg i'm so down for this theatrical production of 'The Killings at Badger's Drift' 😂🎭 i mean who wouldn't want to see their fave TV detective dci barnaby in a live stage show? but what i love most about this adaptation is how it plays with the genre tropes and winks at fans of the show 🤣. like, who says crime fiction has to be boring? not this production! they're taking the familiar formula and turning it on its head with clever wordplay and allusions 🤯. plus, the cast sounds amazing - a whole bunch of actors playing different roles is just genius 👏. i'm definitely adding this to my theatre bucket list now 💖
 
I'm not sure about these long-running TV show adaptations for the stage 🤔. Don't get me wrong, I love a good whodunit as much as the next person, but isn't this just a watered-down version of the original? And what's with all these new twists and wordplay? Can't we just stick to the original story like it is? I mean, I've seen some pretty clever adaptations in my time, but this one just seems like a novelty act to me 🎪. Still, if you're a fan of 'Midsomer Murders', I suppose it's worth checking out...
 
OMG, I'm so hyped for this stage adaptation of #MidsomerMurders 🤩🎭! The idea of a theatrical production that subverts expectations and plays with genre tropes is pure genius 😂. The fact that it's poking fun at itself is just the icing on the cake - who doesn't love a good meta-joke? 🍫 I'm all about reinvigorating crime fiction in British theatre, and this adaptation seems to be doing just that 💡. With clever wordplay, witty banter, and unexpected twists, it's going to be an unforgettable theatrical experience 🤯. Trust me when I say you won't want to miss out on seeing this adaptation - get those tickets booked ASAP! 👉 #MidsomerMurdersOnStage #TheatricalMagic #CrimeFictionReimagined
 
lol just watched the trailer for 'The Killings at Badger's Drift' 🤣 and I'm HOOKED! did you know that ITV has been getting 4 million viewers per episode of 'Midsomer Murders'? 💥 that's like, a huge chunk of British audience every week 😲 anyway, this stage adaptation is supposed to bring in £2.5 million from touring alone 🤑 which is insane considering the production costs are only around £1.3 million... anyways, gonna be interesting to see how it performs, here's a chart to give you an idea of crime fiction's UK theatre attendance 📊

2020: 12m tickets sold
2021: 9.5m tickets sold
2022: 10.8m tickets sold
2023: 11.4m tickets sold
2024: 12.6m tickets sold (Jan - Sept)
2025: 13.2m tickets expected 📈
 
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