...in the plot of a new musical he's starring in

Jason Manford is starring in a new comedy musical, filmed at its cast’s homes and streamed online.

A Killer Party, which will be released as a series of nine episodes to watch on demand,  is set in Blackpool’s smallest regional theatre, which is staging a  murder-mystery play when the artistic director - to be played by Manford - is found dead.

The premise is similar to a previous West End and touring production the comedian starred in, Curtains. In that show, he played a musicals-loving detective investigating a killing on the stage of a Broadway-bound production.

Manford’s previous musical theatre credits include playing Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Leo Bloom in  The Producers on the UK tours, as well as  Pirelli in Sweeney Todd in the West End, and Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls at the Royal Albert Hall.

The rest of the cast of A Killer Party announced today comprises Oscar Conlon-Morrey, as recently seen in the Only Fools And Horses stage musical, plus fellow West End performers Debbie Kurup, Cedric Neal, Amara Okareke, Lucas Rush, Emma Salvo, Ashley Samuels, Harriet Thorpe  and Rachel Tucker.

A Killer Party was produced in the US last year, with a different cast, after being written  in response to the closure of theatres

The British version will be available Stream Theatre, priced £2.99 an episode or  £25 for the full season.

Published: 24 Mar 2021