Danyah Miller on The Mystery of… Show and the Art of Interactive Theatre
Bringing an interactive, family-friendly murder mystery to the stage is no small feat, but Danyah Miller and her team have done just that with The Mystery of… Show. Blending storytelling, spontaneity, and audience participation, the production turns theatre into a thrilling game, inviting audiences to become detectives.
As the show embarks on its UK tour, we spoke to Danyah about the creative journey, the challenges of crafting an evolving mystery, and why red is the perfect colour to describe the experience.
It’s great to meet you Danyah, so what are you up to?
I’m the producer and solo performer in The Mystery of… Show. I co-devised and co-wrote this production with director Dani Parr and designer Kate Bunce, alongside our incredible creative team. We’ve also had the privilege of working with two fantastic writing consultants: Phil Porter and bestselling author Robin Stevens (Murder Most Unladylike series).
I’m an international solo performer, writer, and storytelling trainer, as well as the Artistic Director of DMS Productions. I’ve produced, co-devised, and performed seven solo theatrical storytelling shows, including the award-winning I Believe in Unicorns by Michael Morpurgo, which has enjoyed three West End seasons. From adapting The Secret Garden into an immersive ‘Story-in-a-Box’ experience during lockdown to creating this latest murder mystery show, I’m passionate about making work with creativity, curiosity, and collaboration at its core. Previously, I was the Artistic Director of Wizard Presents, where I co-created three major musicals, including the Olivier-nominated Soul Sister in 2012.
You’re taking the show on tour – tell us about that.
DMS Productions developed The Mystery of… Show in collaboration with Little Angel Theatre, where it premiered last year with an 11-week run. Now, we’re thrilled to be bringing it to audiences across the UK during the February half-term and Easter holidays. The tour kicks off in Deptford before travelling to venues nationwide. (See the full tour schedule below!)
What can audiences expect from the show?
The Mystery of… Show is an interactive, family-friendly murder mystery theatre experience for audiences aged 7 and up. If you love solving puzzles and working out ‘whodunnit’, this is the show for you! The audience joins me as trainee detectives, uncovering clues, examining evidence, and interrogating suspects—all in pursuit of the truth.
With such an interactive show, do you expect a lot of audience participation?
Absolutely! Our motto is: Get Involved and Get It Solved! We want audiences to leave feeling engaged, entertained, and intellectually stimulated. One of my favourite moments was when a nine-year-old said, ‘This is better than a good game of Cluedo!’ That’s exactly the kind of excitement we hope to create—a mystery that feels just as thrilling as playing a game with friends.
What inspired the show?
The idea first sparked in 2021 while I was writing my book, Seven Secrets of Spontaneous Storytelling. At the time, I had no idea what shape it would take, but I knew I wanted to make a show that had spontaneity at its core. I love creating productions that are playful, interactive, and full of surprises. When I shared the idea with my close collaborators Dani Parr and Kate Bunce, we realised we all shared a love of board games. That’s when the concept of turning a show into a game was born!
During rehearsals, we worked closely with three local schools and a ‘Super Group’ of 8 to 10-year-olds, whose insights helped shape the show. Their feedback was invaluable in making it fun, engaging, and challenging.
How long did it take to develop the show?
We worked on it for six months, with five weeks of intensive rehearsals. It was like solving a giant puzzle—we had to balance structure with spontaneity while ensuring the mystery remained compelling. We experimented with game mechanics and storytelling techniques, tested different ideas, and gradually pieced it all together. The result is a show that unfolds in three rounds, just like a board game, with the audience having the final say at every stage.
How has the show evolved from its original concept?
Our core intention—to create a theatre piece driven by spontaneity and audience participation—has stayed the same. But as with any creative process, things evolved along the way. We knew we wanted a mystery at the heart of the show, but developing a compelling story that keeps audiences engaged took time. We also integrated video, audio elements, and a little touch of magic to add extra layers to the experience.
Because the audience plays such a crucial role, we invited people to watch throughout the development process. Their reactions helped us fine-tune the structure, ensuring that the show remains surprising and satisfying for all.
What has been the biggest challenge in performing this role?
Performing The Mystery of… Show is an absolute joy, but the rehearsal period was one of the toughest I’ve ever experienced. Unlike a traditional play, we didn’t start with a finished script—we built everything from scratch. Figuring out the story, the clues, and how to keep everything flexible yet structured was a huge challenge, especially with limited rehearsal time. There were moments when I felt completely overwhelmed.
During the first preview performances, I was terrified—I didn’t even know my lines properly because we were still shaping the show! But now, with 62 performances under my belt, I can truly enjoy it. Like any good board game, there are multiple endings, so no two shows are ever the same. We’re continuing to add more alternative endings, which keeps it exciting. I love that the audience shapes each performance. There’s so much more we can explore with this production, and that’s incredibly exciting.
If your show was a colour, what would it be and why?
Definitely RED! Red symbolises energy, danger, passion, sacrifice, enthusiasm, courage, good fortune, warmth, joy, and vitality. It’s such a dynamic colour, and I hope our production reflects that—a multi-layered experience that keeps audiences on their toes!
What’s the best advice you’ve received in your career, and how has it influenced this show?
Great wisdom I’ve taken from two folk tales, ‘Sharpen Your Saw’ and ‘Many Blows, One Break’, have influenced how I approach my work in general, and this production in particular: The first reminds me that rest and renewal are essential to staying effective and creative.. The second reinforces that success comes from persistence and patience – just like breaking a rock in two, it’s not a single strike but consistent effort that leads to any breakthrough.
Creating The Mystery of… Show was a process of perseverance, problem-solving, and sheer determination, but I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved.
Thank you, Danyah! It’s been fascinating to hear about the creative process behind The Mystery of… Show.
The Mystery of… Show is touring the UK from 18th February to 27th April.
Tour Dates:
- The Albany (Deptford): Tues 18th Feb
- Bristol Old Vic: 19th – 22nd Feb
- Queen’s Hall (Hexham): Wed 26th Feb
- Alnwick Playhouse: Fri 28th Feb
- The Coro (Ulverston): Sun 2nd March
- Stamford Arts Centre: Thurs 10th April
- The Quarry Theatre (Bedford): Fri 11th April
- Old Town Hall (Hemel Hempstead): Sat 12th April
- The Hat Factory Arts Centre (Luton): Mon 14th April
- Brentwood Theatre: Tues 15th April
- Hull Truck Theatre: 16th – 17th April
- The Egg (Bath): 26th – 27th April
