When Angel Campey – Cape Town comedian, radio host, and all-round comedy conspirator – decided to throw a birthday dinner, she figured, why settle for cake and candles when you can add a body count?
Not a real one, of course.
Instead, she roped in a group of Cape Town’s funniest minds like Siv Ngesi, Kagiso Mokgadi and Bailey Georgiades and invited them to dress up as dangerously elite world leaders, and transformed her home into the scene of an impeccably crafted murder mystery. Think Agatha Christie meets stand-up comedy – with wine. Lots of it.
The creative mastermind behind the evening was Lisa Aspeling. By day she’s a marketing whizz, by night she’s the mind behind Murder Mystery Guide. We chatted to her about the hijinks.
Design the future (and solve a murder while you’re at it)
For Campey’s bash, Aspeling conjured a game around the “Design The Future Group” – a fictional, highly classified world summit where powerful figures come together to decide the fate of humanity.
That is, until the event’s keynote speaker, Jim Ball, is found very much not alive. (Tell the truth – you’ve dreamed of that at dull conferences, haven’t you?)
Within seconds, the dinner party descended into delightful madness. Comedians turned suspects. Plot twists flew. Wine glasses clinked with suspicion. Alibis were spun, secrets spilled and reputations hilariously dismantled.
In true diva style, guest and fellow funny person Mel Jones raised her glass and dramatically cried, “Muurrdaaahhh!” – a moment that instantly became the dinner party’s battle cry. Soon, everyone was chanting it like their lives depended on it.
Behind the scene of the crime
What makes Murder Mystery Guide unlike anything else? In one word, it’s bespoke.
Every single dinner is custom-built by Aspeling – tailored to the group, the setting and the personalities in the room. Before any plot is written, she gets to know the would-be invitees: their inside jokes, weird quirks, special skills, and even what accents they can do. No two mysteries are ever the same – and every guest ends up feeling like they were meant to play their role, even if they’re not a born actor.
What started as a DIY tradition in her family evolved into an unforgettable experience that anyone can now book – whether you’re planning a birthday, a team-building event, or simply a dastardly dinner with friends.
Enter the apocalypse!
As if one fictional crisis wasn’t enough, Campey’s crew of comedians decided to add a side-plot: the end of the world. A lively bunker debate broke out, complete with survival alliances and wild conspiracy theories – because as the old saying goes, you’re solving a murder, why not prep for the apocalypse too?
As the night came to a close, final accusations flew. Some guests were more convincing than others – it turns out too much protesting your innocence comes across as awfully suspicious, while simply adopting a “smize” (that’s “smiling with your eyes”) can help you charm your way out of suspicion.
As Aspeling sums it up: “Adults don’t often get the chance to play – to be silly, outrageous and imaginative. You don’t need to be an actor. You don’t even need to be loud. These games are built to include everyone. And they bring people together in a way that few other experiences do.
“No-one remembers last month’s braai. But they will remember the night Aunt Susan turned out to be a backstabbing secret agent with a fake French accent.”
Book your personalised murder mystery at Murder Mystery Guide.
Sign up to Currency’s weekly newsletters to receive your own bulletin of weekday news and weekend treats. Register here.
