Review: Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift

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Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift (based on the novel by Caroline Graham) is playing in Oxford this week, as one of the stops on its current UK tour, which as an avid Midsomer Murders fan I was excited to see what this show would have to offer and I can quite honestly say it did not disappoint! 

Written and directed by Guy Unsworth, the play is set in 1997 and follows the story of well-loved spinster Emily Simpson, who is found dead in the picturesque village of Badger’s Drift. As suspicion starts to arise from Emily’s close friend Lucy Bellringer (Julie Legrand) that this might not be of natural causes, DCI Tom Barnaby (Daniel Casey) and Sergeant Gavin Troy (James Bradwell) are called in to investigate. 

It was interesting to watch Daniel Casey go from playing Troy in the TV Series to now stepping in to the opposite role of Tom Barnaby for the stage play, in which his portrayal is brilliant. Bradwell as Troy also makes for fantastic theatre, as paired with Casey they both play their roles superbly. 

The show itself has an array of different characters, which are cleverly played by a small-scale cast, the majority doubling up to play mutiple roles. These include Nathalie Barclay (Judy Lessiter/Katherine Lacey), Chandrika Chevli (Barbara Lessiter/Dr Bullard/Dickie Whiteley), John Dougall (Trevor Lessiter/Iris Rainbird/Henry Trace) and Rupert Sadler (Dennis Rainbird/Michael Lacey), as well as ensemble members Chris Agha and Rhîan Crowley-McLean. Julie Legrand, mentioned earlier in the review, also plays multiple roles (Terry Bazely/Phillis Cadell) but her portrayal of Lucy Bellringer is something which should get a special mention, as there are some comical moments in which the character keeps showing up randomly at different parts of the show in order to aid Barnaby and Troy with their investigation. 

A main thing Midsomer Murders fans will know is the many twists and turns one of the stories can have, and with David Woodhead’s rustic, of the era set design, paired with the music (Max Pappenheim) it really carried the production well. Also, I loved the iconic Midsomer theme tune being played. The scene changes, which included sliding set pieces on and off of the stage were slick, along with eye-catching which in turn, added an element of surprise. A highlight is the circle backdrop throughout the show (which, without giving too much away) is quite an enjoyable feature, with some of the characters, as the story unfolds. Matt Haskins Lighting Design also plays a big part with the vibrancy it brings to the show, along with an often dramatic outlook. 

I would say if you’re a fan of a ‘who done it’ story, this would definitely be one to get yourself along to, but it could equally be enjoyed by anyone with a general interest for getting immersed in the imaginative world of a well told murder mystery play. 

A wonderful show, with captivating storytelling and fabulous performances all around. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photo taken at curtain call. 

Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift is on at New Theatre Oxford until Saturday 2 May 2026, with tickets available at https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/whats-on/