What happens when you mix classic murder mystery tropes with the unpredictability of live comedy? You get Murder Village—a fully improvised whodunit where the audience decides who dies, who did it, and how the story unfolds.
In this episode, Andrew G chats with David Massingham, a seasoned improviser and the creative force behind the show. David shares how his love for improv began back in high school in Queensland and how that early passion evolved into a decade-long career performing and teaching across Australia.
At the heart of Murder Village is a clever formula. The cast enters each performance with pre-designed characters—each with their own quirks, secrets, and motives—but the relationships and plot points emerge live, guided by suggestions and votes from the audience. “We’ve built a structure that gives us just enough to play with,” David explains. “The rest is up to the night.”
One of the most interesting parts of the chat is David’s take on audience dynamics. Different cities bring different energies—what gets big laughs in Melbourne might land differently in Brisbane or Perth. Part of the fun, he says, is reading the room and shifting gears on the fly.
He’s also thoughtful about how the show handles audience participation. While the format invites involvement, it’s never pushy. The goal is to make everyone feel included, whether they’re eager to shout out suggestions or just want to sit back and enjoy the chaos. “We don’t want people to feel like they’re going to be dragged onstage,” he says. “But we do want them to feel like they’re part of the story.”
Each performance ends with a satisfying wrap-up, tying all the threads together and revealing the killer—who, of course, is different every time. It’s this mix of structure and spontaneity that keeps audiences coming back.
As Murder Village returns to the Melbourne Comedy Festival, it continues to prove that live theatre doesn’t need scripts to be compelling. With sharp performers, quick thinking, and a bit of help from the crowd, anything can happen.
