NEWS: CRIMES ON THE CHRISTMAS EXPRESS BRINGS NEW MURDER MYSTERY COMEDY TO FROME THIS CHRISTMAS

New Old Friends return to Frome’s Merlin Theatre this Christmas with Crimes on the Christmas Express, a brand-new murder mystery comedy following the success of last year’s Crimes Against Christmas.

The multi-award-winning theatre company will present the world premiere from 17 to 28 December 2026, promising quick changes, eccentric characters and increasingly elaborate comic set pieces.

A Murder Mystery on the Move

Inspired by The Traitors, Succession and Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, the story follows passengers travelling through the Scottish Highlands aboard a train, each hoping to inherit the fortune of deceased whisky mogul Tommy Albyn. Whoever is still standing when the train reaches its final station will take the lot.

Along the way, audiences can expect the company’s trademark wordplay, inventive staging and rapid-fire character changes, with ski races, cable cars and even a full-size steam engine among the promised surprises.

Although New Old Friends previously staged a production with a similar title in 2017, this is a completely reimagined adventure with a new plot, characters and set pieces.

Archive production photograph: Crimes Against Christmas (2025). Photo: Lloyd Evans / We Are Found.

Returning Cast and Creative Team

Kirsty Cox, Dan Gaisford, Andrew McGillan and company founder Heather Westwell all return after appearing in last year’s production. Between them, the four performers will portray more than a dozen characters.

New Old Friends is led by Feargus Woods Dunlop and Heather Westwell. The Frome-based company has been creating comedy theatre since 2008, with previous productions including Crimes on the Nile, Crimes on Centre Court and Houdini’s Greatest Escape.

A New Christmas Adventure

Feargus Woods Dunlop explained that the team had completely reimagined the earlier Christmas Express concept for its return to the Merlin Theatre, and said the response to last year’s run had encouraged them to develop even more ambitious comic moments.

He also welcomed the return of the entire Crimes Against Christmas cast, highlighting the chemistry they had developed together.

Archive production photograph: Crimes Against Christmas (2025). Photo: Lloyd Evans / We Are Found.

Performance Dates and Tickets

Crimes on the Christmas Express runs at the Merlin Theatre, Frome, from 17 to 28 December 2026, with performances at various times. Booking information and performance times are available at www.merlintheatre.co.uk.

For further information about New Old Friends and its productions, visit www.newoldfriends.co.uk.