A chocolate-themed singles night has gone horribly wrong. Can you solve WhoDunnit? Interview the suspects, sample the chocolates, solve the crime — it’s all up to you.

Death By Chocolate: an interactive murder mystery with chocolate tasting

Wellington version

A New Zealand debut.

New version for New Zealand.

Features local talent and chocolate.

ESSENTIAL DETAILS

WHEN

Thursday through Sunday

September 4 to 27, 2009

Start time is 7pm

Duration of the live event is approximately 150 minutes

WHERE

Dransfield House

335 Willis St (opposite Aro St)

Wellington

HOW MUCH

$38 Admit One = Live Event + Chocolate Tasting + Online Experience

$30 Valid Student = Live Event + Chocolate Tasting + Online Experience

$10 = Online Only Experience (available internationally)

All tickets are available via Eventfinder.co.nz

CHOCOLATE

Our chocolate tasting is of Wellington business, Bohemein: Fresh Chocolates, and is a special sneak preview of their new look. Bohemein were previously known as Melting Perfection Chocolatiers. They are located in Hataitai and on Featherston St.

WHAT ELSE

Death By Chocolate is also available for private bookings, including:

Christmas parties

Social Events

Corporate Skill Building

ADDITIONAL PLOT INFORMATION

Chocolate + Murder + Interactive
Buy your ticket and immediately begin your interactive experience. Become a student detective and start testing your skills online right away.

Then attend the live event where you enjoy two hours of interrogating the suspects, sampling chocolate, swapping notes, and riffling through evidence. Complete the night with an accusation, but it’s not over yet!

Continue the case online where you can ask more questions, decode more clues, and revel in online discussion, until the murderer is uncovered and arrested.

There’s been a murder at a chocolate-themed singles night… can you solve WhoDunnit? Interview the suspects, sample the chocolate, solve the crime — it’s all up to you.

REVIEWS

Wellington Season Press

22 Sept — “Interview: Vanessa B Baylen” — Mr Orgue — Gametime

21 Sept — “Death By Chocolate” — Blogster: Morgue — Blog

“Neat fun… really great… you should go.”

16 Sept — “Chocolate Fishy” — Bernie Whelan — CityLife Independent Herald

“Like chocolate, it’s addictive and well worth going.”

15 Sept — Interview with Vanessa B Baylen and suspect ‘Justin Case’ (Matt Clayton) — Wellington Community Zone with Laura Daly and Yenping Yeo on Access Radio

15 Sept — Interview with Vanessa B Baylen — Breakfast with Yadanna on The VBC (radio)

12 Sept — “Death By Chocolate” — Karyn Cushen — Texture

“The acting was fantastic, the concept was brilliant and the chocolate was divine”

8 Sept — “Play detective in death by chocolate case” — Priyanka Bhonsule — The Hutt News

“Interactive theatre is an understatement”

“The actors were amazing, sticking to their prescribed roles and background stories so well that there were times I found myself sympathising, repulsed and bizarrely, wanting to get to know them better.”

“My notoriously hard-to-impress friend afterwards said he’d like to go back again”

7 Sept — “Sweet, Poisonous Murder Puzzle” — Laurie Atkinson — The Dominion Post

5 Sept — “Evidence, Chocolates and Suspects” — Maryanne Cathro — Theatreview

“Not one of [the actors] lost their character in the face of a barrage of sometimes quite bizarre questions and accusations.”

“The suspects were all amazingly proficient improvisers who had their back stories in place and stuck to them.”

“Strangers start to bond over shared revelations”

“I just spent a good half hour on the website and it is great.

“[I’m] pretty impressed by the overall value of the ticket price. I am tempted to go again later”

“I really do think I will go again, and not just for the pineapple and black pepper chocolates!”

2 Sept – “Real-life Cluedo” – Sophie Schroder – Capital Times

21 Aug — Interview with Vanessa B Baylen — The Home Run with Rob Holding on Radio Rhema

20 Aug – “Chocolate crime night a sellout success” – Rebecca Thomson – The Wellingtonian

Wellington Season Audience

“Actors/actresses consistently in character. Awesome evening and chocolate” – Kylie

“Great evening! Thank you so much!” – Tanya

“Such a good idea!” – James, Christy, Jim, Lauren

“Awesome! Actors were really good and stayed in character. Chocs were fantastic! Big thumbs up, well done!” – Matt

“Good evening! Very well thought through.” – Gemma

“Great evening… great chocolate! Actors were great and really good at staying in character. Well done guys.” – Alexandra

“Absolutely fantastic! Sooo much information! So well done! Amazing.” – Jono

“Awesome evening!!!” – Rachel

“Absolutely brilliant!! Most fun I have had in weeks!” – Adam

“What a great experience!! Thanks.”

“A great idea! Something really different and fun to do.” – Susannah

“Completly awesome & amazing. Outstanding performances!” – Jay

“A fantastic night. I would definitely recommend to others. The actors were amazing!” – Mel

“Great fun. Something a bit different ”

“Great work. Very Fun.” – Ollie

“Great fun. Cheers guys.” – Julie

“Brilliant!!!” – Garry

“Very entertaining and lots of fun. Great formula for a grand night out. Many thanks.” – Barry

“Brilliant evening! Would love to bring friends along for another night. The actors were great – very convincing & stay in character well.” – Jamie

“Fantastic. Loved it. Awesome. ”

“Brilliant + challenging” – Carrie

“Awesome concept. Love the interactivity”

“Woah, amazingly talented bunch of actors – was a great night!”

“Awesome night. Great work from the whole cast. Thanks guys.” – Sharlene

“Excellent night! Such original fun – stimulated the mind, pallet + spirit. Thanks!”

“Really fun! Actors were really great.” – Pallavi

“Awesome! Great fun.” – Faith

“Jack Azz is the best. I love him.” – Dave

“Thank you for the fabulous night. Great story, fantastic characters (played by remarkable actors) and delicious chocolate = a great success.” – Cushla

“That was really awesome!!”

“Wonderful performances!”

“The ultimate in interactive entertainment” – Hugh

“Had a fantastic time. Heaps of fun + really well done. Great actors.”

“What a fantastic concept! What a fantastic night!! Many thanks”

“Good job – great night – awesome chocolate! … Very polished cast” – Dinithi

“What a fantastic idea for theatre – and so well acted!” – Cathy

“Had an absolutely brilliant night, so glad we came. Thank you thank you to the fabulous actors who made it so enjoyable!! PS Choc was yummy” – Steph

“Excellent night, brilliant performances. So good we came twice” – Luke

“The actors were brilliant, very colourful and convincing. Really enticing to find all the plots and antiplots. Had a great time. Cheers.” – Keith

“Fantastic night! Excellent performance! Looking forward to carrying on the intrigue online!” – Chris

“You rocked my jocks off… it was amazing!!” – Chelsea

“Thank you. Thank you. Loved it. So glad I came. I will spread the word. Great planning, acting, props, etc.” – Cheryl

CREDITS

Death By Chocolate (Wellington)

Creator/Director/Producer – Vanessa B Baylen

Creative Consultant – Brylee Lamb

Live Event

Chocolate – Bohemein Fresh Chocolates

Barman – Adam Bradshaw

Alison “Allie” Gull – Kerina Deas

Beverley Hylskop – Robert Hickey

Cassandra “Kaz” Enova – Ban Abdul

Ivanna “Coco” Noe – Ella Kahu

Jack Azz – Thomas Rimmer

Justin Case – Matt Clayton

Melissa Barron – Vanessa B Baylen

Pearl Harber – Aisha Pachoud

Susan “Sue” Tuble – Amalia Calder

Tamara “Tam” Artow – Brylee Lamb

Online Experience

Flash Games –

Neroli Wesley (maze, autopsy, helicopter game, music box)

David Pritchard (follow the lawyer game)

Newspaper Contributors –

Vanessa B Baylen as Trudy Guthrow, Joel Cohen, Steven Williams, Ivanna Noe, Carly Cummings, Ash Roblin, Elaine Guthrow

Kate Scarlett as Leonie Johnson, Alana Martin, Cara Summers

Philip Patston as himself

Adam Bradshaw as himself

Roy Bradshaw as himself

Susan Jackson as herself

Evidence Content –

Vanessa B Baylen, Kerina Deas, Robert Hickey, Ban Abdul, Ella Kahu, Thomas Rimmer, Matt Clayton, Aisha Pachoud, Amalia Calder, Brylee Lamb, Adam Bradshaw

Videos – Vanessa B Baylen

Website Design – Caspian Ievers

Website Build & Support – Brandon Stewart

Crew

Casting Assistant – Brylee Lamb

Rehearsal Assistant – Adam Bradshaw

Sponsorship Liaison – Brylee Lamb, Adam Bradshaw

General Assistants – Adam Bradshaw, Brylee Lamb

Photos – Annabel Carberry, Vanessa B Baylen, Matt Evans

Photoshop – Adam Bradshaw, Vanessa B Baylen

Special Thanks To:

George @ Bohemein, Jan @ Dransfield House, Bob & James @ Eventfinder, Belinda @ Trendee, Jo @ ID Solutions, Ann @ DPG, Brielle & Sarah @ PrintStop, Claire Medcalf, George Oliver, Virginia Greaves, Helena Bender, Steven Heath, Phoebe Swift, all the cast and crew for their extra help and support… and to you too!