Dame Emma Thompson, Jim Broadbent, Adrian Dunbar, Hugh Bonneville, Sandi Toksvig, Sanjeev Bhaskar, and Gillian Anderson will take turns to be fed their lines through an ear piece while solving a comedy murder.
It’s the fourth time that artistic director Jez Bond has called in celebrities to raise much-needed funds for the Finsbury Park Theatre.
Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 runs from May 11 to June and is set in the lawless town of Graveside.
This time around the whole theatre will be transformed into a fully immersive wild west world from the street to the bars, foyers and both performance spaces.
At each performance, a different celebrity will take on the completely unrehearsed role of sheriff. Armed only with an earpiece feeding them lines moments before they speak, they must try to solve the murder, survive the mayhem, and keep the show on track.
Sir Ian McKellen returns to lend his voice to the chaos, with further guest sheriffs to be announced.
A cast of regular characters including Buck Steed, Dawn Frencham, Jim Ranson, and Reverend Virgil will have to react to the changing roster of sheriffs.
Co-writer Bond said the Whodunnits are vitally important with proceeds directly supporting the running of the building, the development of new work, and the community and education programmes.
He said: “Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] has become a vital fundraiser for Park Theatre, helping to keep the building open, accessible and creatively ambitious.
“For 2026, we wanted to honour that by going all in – turning the entire theatre into a living, breathing Wild West town and inviting audiences to play along.
“It’s joyful, anarchic theatre with a serious purpose behind it: raising crucial funds while giving people an unforgettable night out. No two performances will ever be the same.”
Audiences arriving at Clifton Terrace will see a Wild West streetscape, with the theatre bars dressed with hay bales, whisky barrels and period décor, and serving Old West-inspired cocktails.
The studio becomes The Last Chance Saloon – an exclusive space for cabaret seat and Band A+ ticket holders with themed drinks, nibbles, live music, characters, and mock gambling.
A community chorus will roam the building throughout the evening, playing out scenes, striking up conversations, and occasionally erupting into bar fights.
Audiences are encouraged to arrive early, dress up and explore, with a dressing-up box and photo booth and a pre-show welcome from the house band, featuring piano, banjo, fiddle and percussion.
In the main space, cabaret-style tables will bring audiences up close to the action as they become saloon patrons, members of the congregation, and courtroom spectators.
The production features songs, audience sing-alongs, and two onstage bartender roles – where they can step into the world of the show and interact with the guest sheriff.
Tickets on sale now from parktheatre.co.uk
