Blyth-born Mitch Donaldson brings A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception to Tyne Theatre & Opera House for four performances from 8–10 March 2027, marking a special homecoming at a theatre close to his heart.
From humble beginnings in Blyth to sell-out performances in London’s West End, Northumberland-born actor, writer and theatre producer Mitch Donaldson is bringing his hit comedy A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception home to the North East as part of its 2027 UK tour.
Following sell-out runs in the West End and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Shoddy Theatre will make its debut at Tyne Theatre & Opera House from 8–10 March 2027, with four performances across three days.
For Mitch, who grew up in Blyth and founded Shoddy Theatre in 2018 after graduating from East 15 Acting School, the Newcastle dates are particularly meaningful. His connection to Tyne Theatre & Opera House stretches back to childhood, when a visit to the theatre provided a welcome escape during a frightening time.
At just 13 years old, Mitch was seriously ill in hospital with peritonitis following a burst appendix. During his recovery, his parents took him to see a pantomime at Tyne Theatre & Opera House starring North East comedy legend Brendan Healy.
Recalling the experience, Mitch said: “I couldn’t tell you what the pantomime was, I’ll be honest, but it was just being in a packed room with people, just being able to laugh. I do think sometimes laughter is the best medicine. Even on your lowest of days, just being able to have a laugh, to watch something that makes you feel good, gives that little bit of hope.”
Now, years later, Mitch is preparing to step onto that same stage with a show he created, bringing his own brand of comedy to the theatre that holds such special memories.
The journey began at East 15 Acting School, where A Shoddy Detective was originally devised as a final-year student project. Determined to develop the production further, Mitch brought the show back to his hometown of Blyth, staging a free performance at St Cuthbert’s Church to help expand it into a full-length production.
With the support of family, friends and local audiences, the show continued to grow, progressing from fringe festivals to small and mid-scale tours, before reaching London’s West End.
Reflecting on the journey, Mitch said: “I think bringing the show to Newcastle is a full-circle moment. It was developed in the North East. It went from a student project into an actual play, then went on a small-scale tour, a mid-scale tour, and now it’s a large tour, and it’s in a prestigious venue like Tyne Theatre & Opera House. It’s quite overwhelming to some degree.”
A laugh-out-loud slapstick whodunnit featuring four actors, a dozen characters and a whole lot of chaos, A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception follows the investigation into a priceless painting that goes missing at a private auction.
Detective Stuart Pidcock is called upon to solve the mystery, but when he finds himself out of his depth, he’s forced to enlist the help of an old nemesis. Together, the unlikely pair must interrogate a manor house full of eccentric suspects, uncover the culprit and solve the crime of the century. Written by Mitch Donaldson and Becky Bartram and directed by Daniel Buckroyd, the production combines physical comedy, inventive storytelling and fast-paced multi-rolling performances.
Mitch returns to the stage as Lord Raeburn, bringing experience from productions including Blyth Spirit at Newcastle’s Live Theatre and Romeo & Juliet at the Globe Theatre in Rome, alongside TV appearances in CBBC’s Danny & Mick.
He is joined by fellow Shoddy Theatre cast member and Company Manager Becky Bartram as Lady Raeburn. A trained actor and stunt performer, Becky’s stage credits include Dragon Slayer, while her TV special action work includes Netflix’s The Witcher and The Sandman, as well as Gangs of London and Slow Horses.
Taking on the role of Detective Pidcock is Ben Thornton, a UK Pantomime Awards-nominated comic whose extensive theatre credits include West End productions of Les Misérables and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. His screen credits include the BBC comedy People Just Do Nothing and the acclaimed film The Theory of Everything.
Oliver Holland rounds off the cast as Dusty Wills, bringing experience from immersive productions including Phantom Peak and The Paddington Bear Experience, alongside Tchaikovsky: Child of Glass, which received seven FTA nominations.
Completing the company are understudies Georgia Ashford-Miller, a Royal Birmingham Conservatoire graduate whose theatre credits include I Love You Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die, and Thomas Cove, whose stage experience includes Horrible Histories: Terrible Thames, The Secret Garden and Disney’s The Lion King: Rhythm of the Pridelands.
The Newcastle performances form part of an extensive UK tour, presented by Shoddy Theatre and The Production Garden in association with Chelmsford Theatre and Midnight Lotus Productions, visiting theatres across the country between January and April 2027.
And while the show has travelled far beyond its North East beginnings, Mitch believes there’s something particularly special about performing for audiences back home.
“There’s something about the atmosphere. It’s electric. I think it’s the sense of humour, and also the want for people in your home area to succeed. The support that you have from your home area is phenomenal.”
A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception
Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle
8–10 March 2027 | Four performances
Tickets and further information: https://www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/whatson/a-shoddy-detective/
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