Review: A Brew To Kill (Hogs Back Brewery)
Review by Oliver Briggs
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As they celebrate their 20th year producing remarkable works, Guildford Shakespeare Company (GSC) have trotted along to the Hogs Back Brewery with a murder mystery that is ale too fantastic and has audiences immersed from the beginning. GSC was formed in 2006 by co-founders Matt Pinches and Sarah Gobran, who have brought many of Shakespeare’s plays to life, whether on stage, in schools or through open-air performances. GSC also adapts classics from the likes of Dickens or Austen. In this case, however, GSC has devised a unique piece (loosely inspired by Shakespeare’s “Wars of the Roses” cycle) in a wholly new, interactive and immersive way.
Expertly written by Eli Murton, the script demonstrates how much attention to detail went into every scene and character background. Eli didn't just write a murder mystery set in a brewery. She wrote people into existence. She created an entirely new history for the Hogs Back Brewery. With pun after pun about pigs and beer, you cannot help but laugh your way through the taut tension of this production thanks to Murton’s witty writing. Arguably, one of the most impressive parts of this production is the character interviews, during which the audience is taken on a sort of carousel to interview the suspects separately. The audience themselves ask questions that the performers have to respond to. Murton’s ability to develop histories for each character is most evident here, as each cast member knows exactly what to say and how their character would say it in response to some highly probing questions from the audience. Her writing could best be described as verbal slapstick and a reason in itself to see this performance.
Taking the script and getting it on its feet is the magnificent director Matt Pinches. This mastermind behind the action knows what to do to utilise the multiple different spaces and environments provided. Pinches makes brilliant use of the bench seating in the tea room, diverting your attention from one area to set up for a shocking reveal or character appearance in another. This is particularly effective because you are immersed in the action rather than simply watching it unfold in front of you. I never knew who or what was going to appear, or when something was going to happen, which kept me on my toes and very excited. The direction took a very fast-paced approach, meaning I had to remain constantly alert and keep on top of all the information being revealed if I was to solve the murder.
The lighting and set worked as one in this production and, aided by the site-specific setting, drew me into the world of Hogs Back Brewery. Designed by Hannah Walker, they lean into the rustic and mechanical environment of a farm and brewhouse. I couldn't possibly tell you what was already a piece of farm equipment used by the Hogs Back Brewery and what was an additional set piece brought in by GSC because everything fell together so cohesively. Each room was dressed in a fittingly distinctive way, highlighted with different colours or lit in ways that created distinct atmospheres around the different characters. These choices influenced my suspicions about whodunnit. Whether it was a room lit by fairy lights and dressed with tatty wallpaper and posters, large metal drums reflecting the light, or strikingly bright overhead lights illuminating cases of Hogs Back beer stacked two storeys high, each environment was vastly different yet perfectly suited to its respective suspect’s personality.
This murder mystery would not be complete without its list of suspects, each one just as conniving and suspicious as the next. Emma Fenny raises the bar as a sweet and almost-too-simple Edwina. Robert Maskell packs an assertive punch as the local gangster Tommy. Jack Whitman’s performance as Richard kept me cautious and intrigued, whilst Laura Smithers brought an excitingly sly wit to Anne. Each one of these performers has so much to offer individually, but as a quartet they breathe great warmth and life into the material despite the chilling murder.
A murder mystery isn’t complete without an ominous trenchcoat. Luckily for this performance, Anett Black has it covered, designing the costumes for each character and effectively using them to shape the tension and suspicion. The most prominent example is Richard’s costume: he starts the play in a mousy brown suit with a teal-blue woollen jumper, but wears a dark grey trenchcoat when separated from the others, suggesting that he is more suspicious than he initially seems. Tommy wears a well-tailored black and red suit throughout, which reflects his line of work well, and I found myself believing that he was the perpetrator before the mystery had even unfolded. Anne wears a long dark grey coat and black hat, which effectively leave me wanting to know more about her. As with Richard, Anne’s coat changes to bright red when she is separated from the other characters, which I interpreted as a form of foreshadowing. Edwina’s costume is unassuming and sweet, with a floral dress and cardigan that allow her character to fly under the radar.
A Brew To Kill is the murder mystery you have to solve this season. Every single detail has to be taken into account, keeping your attention and holding the space well. Everyone is a suspect, and you will not be able to tell until the final moments who has done what, maintaining the intrigue and surprise. Follow this recipe for murder, enjoy a pint and solve a crime.
A Brew To Kill runs at Hogs Back Brewery until 15 November. Tickets from www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk/murder-mystery-2026/
Photos by Front of House Photography.