About
Scotland offers sensational scenery, languid lochs and beautiful bens. Whether you are booking into a hotel, hiring a castle, staycationing in self catering steadings, or planning a team building event, Scotland is the perfect place to explore and escape in style. The days take care of themselves.
But the evenings... the warmth of a real log fire, the grandeur of the antiquities, and the chill of those dark Scottish nights all lend themselves to something of a Scottish tradition: the Scottish Murder Mystery Dinner.
And there are none as quintessentially Scottish, with humour, warmth and grit as The Tentpeg Murderers. We are a small family business bringing a vast experience of what works to every venue and every audience, having honed our expertise over 25 successful years.
CREATIVE SCOTLAND FUNDING
Supported by Creative Scotland's Open Fund, The Tentpeg Murderers, Scotland’s oldest murder mystery theatre company, and Sab Samuel, founder of Drag Queen Story Hour UK, worked together to create new and exciting LGBTQIA+ focused performances.
VIRTUAL MURDER MYSTERIES - AVAILABLE NOW!
The perfect way to bring your team, group or family together to create a shared memory of bonding, fun and laughter. We have formats to suit different groups and budgets, whether you want to be a named character in the plot, or just to be entertained by professional actors. Email us now to secure a date in the calendar.
THE FINEST ACTORS
One of the defining features of our murder mysteries is the calibre of the actors we have access to here in Scotland. Scotland is second to none for theatre on traditional stages and in more innovative unusual locations. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Tramway, The Lyceum, Stirling's MacRobert Arts Centre, Dundee Reperatory Company, The Citizens Theatre, the list goes on and on. We have our pick of the finest actors. We nurture new talent, and support experienced actors too, with some of them having worked with us for over 20 years!
THE FINEST VENUES
Second only to the scenery, Scotland's venues are in a class of their own. Lodges, mansion houses, estates, castles, top notch hotels and chic city centre hideaways. You will be spoilt for choice. Here at the Tentpeg Murderers we pride ourselves on having performed throughout Scotland - from East to West coasts, from Inverness to the Borders, and beyond into the wilds of England.
If you are looking for a venue then we are more than happy to recommend our favourite haunts and point you in the right direction.
CHOOSE FROM OVER 40 THEMES
We have scripts to suit every season, every festivity, and themes as diverse as the wild west to pirates of the caribbean. And of course the fireside, Miss Marple style, Cluedo inspired classics. You can take a wander through many of them on our Murder Mystery Themes page.
MAKE USE OF OUR SELFIE STATIONS
"We murdered a great night out!" Our events come complete with our two selfie stations. Pose for group photos with our crazy characters and see how you measure up to our crime wall. They also help to dress your venue for the event. #wouldyoukillforagreatnightout
PERSONALISED, TAILORED AND BESPOKE
Every murder mystery is unique. Not only do we spend a huge amount of the event interacting directly with you and your guests - dining with you in costume and in character - but we can also inject in-jokes, the names, professions and interests of your guests and can even make a special fuss on a birthday boy or girl. We can make things as bespoke as you wish. You might even entertain commissioning a brand new script especially for you or your venue!
PERFECT FOR CORPORATE EVENTS
Murder Mysteries perfectly blend team-building and celebration. Bring your organisation together in a way that avoids 'work talk' and offers them an escapist yet collaborative task to focus on. Having a murder to solve is a bizarre but brilliantly effective way of breaking the ice as individuals from across teams and hierarchies engage as equals with something entirely new. The structured activity heads off any uncomfortable silences, over-exuberance, and guarantees a sense of light-hearted fun than everyone can get into.
PERFECT FOR HEN NIGHTS
Some of our favourite audiences are hen-nights - we love them. Our Murder mysteries are hilarious, raucous affairs filled with laughter, heckling and silliness. We also promise to name-check the lucky lady and her groom-to-be. We always look to personalise your event by including a few in-jokes and can even include the bride-to-be in the suspects list! As little or as much as you want. Oh, and don't forget you can pick a theme that gives everyone an excuse to dress up!
PERFECT FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS AND CHARITIES
Our murder mystery events have helped to raise funds for many charities over the years, and supported small community groups from the Guides to mental health charity Flourish House in Glasgow. Our murder mysteries are accessible to all - allowing everyone to choose how much they wish to engage. Some might be happiest sitting back, as the actors entertain and share the story, keeping them laughing throughout. Some will want to grill the characters with a thousand questions. Our events work for everyone - young and old.
THE FINEST CASTLES
Scotland's castles are world famous and provide the perfect backdrop for our murder mystery events. Over our 25 years we have performed everywhere from National Trust ruins to the grandest of byrony castles. You can find a list of the best Scottish castles you vcan hire here , but some of our favourites to perform at include Carlowrie Castle , Culcreuch Castle , Culzean Castle , Dundas Castle , Stobo Castle , and the exclusive Kinfauns Castle near Perth where we performed our first ever murder mystery event in 1998.
THE FINEST HOTELS
Scotland's hotels offer the most fantastic choice for all budgets - and in our 25 years we have performed in them all. We can adapt our murder mystery performances for vast function suites or bijou, characterful lounges. Each adds a new dimension to the performance and we enjoy them all. Some of our favourite haunts include Cornhill Castle in Biggar, Fairburn Hotel in Mauchline, Garfield House Hotel near Glasgow, and The Park Hotel in Ayrshire, though we have delivered countless murder mysteries for the Hilton, Radisson, Mercure, Best Western and Malmaison chains in most cities.
PERFECT FOR HALLOWEEN
Halloween is perhaps our busiest time of year. As a result we have not one but two murder mystery scripts with varying levels of camp and monster-ness. We have Gore the Ghost, Count Backwards (from Tensylvania) and Frankenstein's Monster Mistress (built from all of the finest ladies in the village). Hammer Horror hilarity! Just be sure to book early!
PERFECT FOR SMALL GROUPS
Whilst our murder mysteries work beautifully for as many as 100 guests we love having a small group of guests all to ourselves. We have entertained the international heads of British Telecom at Skibo Castle with just 8 guests, and often work with management teams, community groups and large families to bring their celebrations to life.
PERFECT FOR LARGE GROUPS
If you have a large company get together, an entire wedding reception to entertain, or a function suite to fill The Tentpeg Murderers are the cost effective way of making your guests' night utterly memorable. Holding the attention of a large audience is second nature to our team and we can turn even the largest of spaces into an intimate experience as we join guests at their tables for intense interrogations and up-close and personal humour.
THE FINEST CLASSIC MURDER MYSTERIES
Whilst we offer a vast range of themes with over 40 well worn scripts, we love delivering our classic 'fireside' mysteries. They feature everything you might expect - butlers and ladies, colonels and vicars, a hint of Agatha Christie and plenty of Cluedo references. All delivered with a 1930s feel that defines the classic murder mystery. If you're inspired by Miss Marple's sleepy village, Poirot's 'little grey cells', or Mrs White in the billiard room with the wrench you won't be disappointed.
PERFECT FOR OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES
Our Head Murderer, Stephen, has a particular expertise for site specific and outdoor performance. During these times of social distancing and summer weather we can advise on what works best and offer a range of solutions to help bring any event to life. Whether it be a team of street theatre chartacters, a rogue butler on the lawn, the gameskeeper gently interrupting proceedings, or a full performance outdoors we can share our knowledge and experience. We would love to be a part of your summer plans so don't hesitate to ask for help and suggestions.
MYSTERIES FOR CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Over the years we have performed a number of children's birthday parties by special appointment - The Greatest Showman being the inspiration for our most recent. Traditional party games are tweaked to help your youngsters uncover the facts, identify each others' motives, and hopefully catch the killer. Everyone is a character, everyone is a suspect, and they can also take advantage of our Selfie Station. Usually performed in your very own home, we can make any child with an interest in mysteries the centre of attention with an unforgettable unique experience. We use only a very select set of actors for this, all Disclosure Scotland certificated and experts in creative learning with young people.
PERFECT FOR JAMES BOND FANS
"Mister Bond, we have been expecting you." This year we get to witness the new, no doubt brilliant, James Bond film and we have our spy inspired murder mystery waiting in the wings. Much loved by audiences and actors alike you can spend the evening with James Fond, and villains Agent 000, The Chameleon and Brownfinger. Why not celebrate all things James Bond with this funny, fast-paced, and only slightly ridiculous event.
LOOK FAMILIAR?
"There's been a muddur."
You will find many of our actors have graced your screens as Scotland's film and television industry continues to grow and develop an international profile. Whether it be as a corpse in Taggart , a noblewoman in Outlander , a police officer in River City , or an extra in World War Z/Captain America/The Fast And The Furious... Scotland can boast many of the most experienced and skilled actors in the world . We are, after all, the birth place of a James Bond , a Disney princess , Professor X , Obi Wan Kenobi and not one but two Doctor Whos. Not bad for a population half the size of London.
PERFECT FOR FESTIVALS AND CONFERENCES
Scottish literature events, arts festivals, themed conferences - we have scripts for most events and if we don't have it ready to go we can create a script especially for your event. The enticing mystery that unfurls will keep your audiences engaged, and bring an energy to any large scale event.
PERFECT FOR CHRISTMAS - WHO KILLED SANTA?
What would Christmas be without a family reunion, a family row, and a dead santa stuck half up the chimney? Invite us to super-charge your Christmas celebrations with this hugely successful festive murder mystery. Songs, nostalgia, and scandal.
