Murder Mystery Competition

11 January 2021 at 10:28:04

We are looking for a script for the next murder-mystery play to be performed in the library in aid of Alzheimer Scotland Western Isles.

The writer of the winning entry will receive a £50 prize and their play will be performed when safe to do so!

What we are looking for?

• A 4-character play, in which each character has a monologue to read out and one (the murderer) has a confession
• There should be 2 male and 2 female characters
• Each monologue should be around 2 A4 pages in length, with 1.5 spacing and 12-point font
• You can have the option to create a 5th character to act as police officer/detective and who can then introduce the suspects and host the evening

The Format

To give you a better idea of what we are looking for, here is an outline of the format when the play will be performed.

There has been a murder!! There are 4 suspects, and the audience must listen to each suspect's account of what happened and try to work out which one committed the dastardly crime.

There will be 4 accounts given, and at least one will be lying..... Any of them could have done it, or may have a motive!

The suspects will be introduced one by one, and one by one will read their accounts. The audience will then have a few minutes to question each suspect to test the veracity of their accounts. The suspects may or may not choose to answer.

There will then be an interval, during which the audience will consider the evidence and indicate who they think whodunnit!

The murderer will then stand and read their confession.

Things to Think Of

• Try and convey what each character is like, through their monologue. Weave in bits of their life history, the way they think and their relationship with the victim
• Red herrings!
• The choice of setting is yours. It could be a library, a bookshop, a theatre or some kind of event
• It doesn't have to be set in the present-day, you could always choose a particular period
• Make it fun and mysterious. When the play is performed it is nice to invite the audience to come in costume and share in the entertainment

Entries must be submitted by 11pm on 31 March 2021.  Please submit a covering letter with your full name and contact details. Entries should be emailed to library.enquiries@cne-siar.gov.uk with 'Murder Mystery Entry' in the subject line.