Murder-on-the-Lake, the latest creation from Spontaneous Theatre’s Rebecca Northan and Bruce Horak, makes its world premiere at the Shaw Festival. Northan also directs this madcap whodunit with an all-star cast of performers including a different willing audience-member-turned-detective each night, at the Royal George Theatre starting July 26.

When an unexpected death at a Niagara-on-the-Lake bed and breakfast turns out to be foul play, baffled police hire a rookie detective to help crack the case. The plot twist? This novice gumshoe is enlisted each night straight out of the audience. Our guest sleuth is invited into a world of intrigue where they must assume an undercover identity, unearth evidence, tease out confessions and ultimately make an arrest. No two shows are exactly alike, as our cast of nefarious characters shift and change in response to each new detective at every performance.

Audience members interested in participating as a guest detective should arrive early to introduce themselves to cast who will be mingling in the lobby, the bar, and in front of the theatre before each performance.

Murder-on-the-Lake features Kristopher Bowman, Cosette Derome, Sochi Fried, Virgilia Griffith, Martin Happer, Bruce Horak, Rebecca Northan and Travis Seetoo.

The creative team includes Set Designer Judith Bowden, Costume Designer Rose Tavormina, Lighting Designer Jeff Pybus, Composer and Sound Designer John Gzowski. The production team includes Dora Tomassi, stage manager, and Jane Vanstone Osborn, assistant stage manager.

On stage at the Royal George Theatre (85 Queen Street) from July 26 to October 4, Murder-on-the-Lake is recommended for audience members 12+. Running time is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, including one intermission.

New for the 2025 season: all performances now begin one hour earlier. Matinee performances start at 1 p.m. and evening shows start at 7 p.m.

The Shaw Festival’s 2025 season runs through to December 21, with a playbill featuring

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Anything Goes, Wait Until Dark, Tons of Money, Major Barbara, Murder-on-the-Lake, Gnit, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and A Christmas Carol. This season’s Spiegeltent lineup includes Dear Liar, La Vie En Rose, Ella and Louis, May I Have The Pleasure?, The Roll of Shaw – Through the Wardrobe, The Frogs, Coffee Concerts, Speakeasies, What’s In Your Songbook and Gospel Choir.

Visit www.shawfest.com.