Who Dunnit?! Middle Kingdom Creatives Bring the Stage Fun Back to Beijing

Ana Padilla Fornieles | Mar 8, 2023 2:34 pm | Add a comment | 151 reads

Dear reader, I cannot help it. The more fun I have, the more fun I seek, and by golly, Beijing is always ready to provide. Say theatre, for instance, and I’ll think immediately of Middle Kingdom Creatives, the troupe of foreigners that have been staging delightful, cheeky productions and plays through thick and thin since 2020. Their third anniversary is coming right up, with a special murder mystery-themed show that pays homage to MKC’s roots.

It was in 2020 that MKC founders Ryan, Stephanie, Nathan, and Danny decided to turn their original audiobook, The Dystopian Detective Agency, into an interactive dinner theatre party. Although MKC is better known for their Drunk Shakespeare plays – introduced when the collective brought on American high school drama teacher and theatre lover Laurel Burns in 2021 – the decision was made this time around to bring out a new murder mystery dinner!

And, a damn groovy one it will be. The title is still pending, but we can confirm it will be set in the 70s, with plenty of improvisation along staged dramatic pieces and larger-than-life characters in a ritzy disco environment. Disco divas, glam rock stars, bigwig producers —MKC is looking for them all!

If you’re a seasoned actor or actress, or if you know you have the stage juice in you and have been wanting to find your début, look no further and send your audition materials to MKC! Deadline to submit is Mar 11, so run, don’t walk. Well, once you’ve read all the details here, in my chat with the wonderful Laurel Burns.

You’re no stranger to us, Laurel — we’re so happy to talk to you again. Say, what’s a murder mystery dinner? In short, what can the audience expect from such a show? And, what will be MKC’s own unique, signature touch to the whole concept?
A murder mystery dinner party will typically transport the audience to an immersive world. Well, ours is going to be a swanky disco from the 1970s.

The night technically includes food and a show — but really, it’s so much more than that. Actors will stay in character all night, interacting with the audience to help them gather all the details of the story and collect clues to solve the mystery through a series of curated scenes presented on stage. And, also to just enjoy a great party atmosphere alongside some unforgettable characters. Right now we’re auditioning to find that dream cast!

Conversely, what’s the ideal profile for a cast member in this particular occasion?
To put it simply, we are looking for people who are DOWN TO CLOWN. As a cast member in a show like this, you need to ooze with ideas —and be willing to share them! You should also be ready to accept and build on the ideas of others.

During rehearsals, we will be working together to flesh out the behaviors of each character. At the same time, we will also devise the web of relationships between the cast together. It’s also worth noting that this performance will require of our actors and actresses the ability to improvise, stay in character for several hours and embrace the crowd in a fully interactive way. So, many types of performers would be suitable for this show!

What’s the expected commitment for anyone jumping onstage with you?
We are always trying to optimize time for actors joining an MKC show. Our game plan is to meet once a week for now, and then add more rehearsals, according to everyone’s schedule, as we approach the opening night. We try to be flexible, for sure. But, we also hope anyone wanting to join the party can be flexible and generous with their time too!

Alright, you persuaded me. What to send and where to send it?
OK, so this is quite the unique audition format!

In the audition video, we are asking prospective performers to show us a character of their own creation. You should speak to the camera for 1-2 minutes, in character, telling us who you (the character) are and why you’re attending this high profile Disco Party. Don’t forget to throw in some kind of obstacle that your character might face there (a spurned lover, financial issues, bad press, you name it).

Let your imagination go wild! In short, we want to see you transforming into a full-fledged, three-dimensional character straight out from the 1970s. Costumes are not required for your audition pack, but maybe you will find that one strategic accessory that will be crucial to help you become someone new!

Send your audition video to MKC’s Ryan Usher (WeChat ID: RyanUsher) before midnight on Mar 11th!

Oh, one last question! Theatre involves quite a bit of behind-the-scenes action. Are you looking for volunteers in that regard, and how should they approach you?
If you are interested in getting in on the MKC love in any capacity, feel free to contact me (Laurel! Wechat ID: laurelpalooza). We always need volunteers for events, and we are thrilled to collaborate artistically with people from the Beijing community!