Dead Leaves is a play written and directed by Bradley Barlow, performing on stage at Titchfield Festival Theatre from 2 – 12 October 2024. There are twists, cliffhangers and red herrings at every turn – not everything is as it seems….this is a murder mystery, but not in the traditional sense.

Melissa French is dead. After the police discover her body in the dark woods and delve into her past, Melissa’s family and friends begin to realise how little they knew her. As secrets are discovered and lies are revealed Melissa’s life begins to be unravelled. Nothing stays buried forever.

Bradley Barlow:

“I wrote Dead Leaves ten years ago following another play I'd written where the central characters talked about another character the audience never met. I liked the idea of challenging myself to write a play centring entirely around one character, someone the audience wouldn't meet. Introducing Melissa French after her death invites the audience to unravel the complex web of lies and deceit surrounding her life. Who in her life could be trusted to tell the truth about her? Who is offering meaningless platitudes…and who knows more than they're letting on?

“Making the play about the murder of a young woman also allowed me to explore themes of male violence towards women and misogyny more generally. Sadly, in the ten years since 'Dead Leaves' was originally staged, we've seen the #MeToo movement and the murder of Sarah Everard and the police brutality at her memorial, meaning the themes I wrote about ten years ago are still just as relevant today.

“In Dead Leaves, we're taking the audience on a journey as Melissa's cause of death is explored and the layers of her life are unravelled, asking them to think about how the past shapes the people we become today. In this play, you must expect the unexpected! There will be misleading clues around every corner… this isn't your ordinary murder mystery.”

Dead Leaves performs in the Oak Theatre, Titchfield Festival Theatre between 2 – 12 October 2024. For more information including booking tickets please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/  or contact our Box Office on 0333 666 3366.