Cluedo the play arrives on the Australian stage in one of the new year’s most anticipated productions. It’s kicking off its tour in Brisbane at the QPAC Playhouse, and will head to Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney soon after.
Cluedo the play is a fast-paced murder mystery comedy where six suspicious guests, all using a colourful pseudonym, are invited to a remote mansion and quickly become suspects when their host turns up dead.
As secrets spill and bodies pile up, the characters race to uncover whodunnit, with what weapon, and in which room, keeping the audience guessing to the very end.
The play is based on the hit 1985 film Clue, which in turn was based on the beloved Cluedo board game.
As a light-hearted piece of broad comedy that has appeal to a wide audience, Cluedo the play delivers. Director Luke Joslin is allowed to give this Australian production its own flavour, pace and personality, a rare gift.
For those who grew up worshipping the film, there are a few notable differences worth pointing out. It’s no longer set in 1954, New England, USA. It’s set in ‘Old’ England, aka London, 1949, likely a loving nod to the year the original board game was first manufactured.
There are references to Westminster instead of Washington, D.C., and British accents abound. The move away from American accents usually lands more positively among Australian theatre audiences, and a British setting feels more on brand for a retro murder mystery.
The Hill House mansion is now known as Boddy Manor. Mr Green has reverted to Reverend Green, his original boardgame namesake. And Colonel Mustard is a lot more clueless.
There’s plenty that has been kept the same, though. Miss Scarlett is still a vamp. Mrs Peacock is dotty. Mr Green is a clumsy, nervous wreck. Mrs White is a black widow. And Professor Plum is still, well, not that smart for a professor.
The singing telegram girl scene remains as one of the funniest in the production. And there’s a secret passageway from the Conservatory to the Lounge.
Designer James Browne also grew up loving the original film, and his set is a marvel. He’s described it as another character, and he is not wrong.
Centre stage is the Hall, which serves as the beating heart of the production. There are visual references to the film, with dark timber finishes, tall walls, sumptuous drapes, and of course, the famous chandelier. (No, it doesn’t get smashed; that would be a logistical nightmare.)
Browne has given each room its own personality, the library being my personal favourite. The set contains a maze of doors with rooms that slide open and closed. It almost feels like a life-sized doll’s house. It is remarkable to think it has also been designed to be flat-packed so it can travel with ease on the tour.
Browne’s costumes are visually gorgeous, with each character wearing their namesake’s colour. As each character arrives at the manor, their overcoats are a sight to behold, and are removed far too soon.
One detail I wish had been retained is the red nails and lipstick, which, to me, are synonymous with the ladies from Clue. It’s probably one of the reasons I still wear red nail polish to this day – they are the epitome of classic glamour. In this production, Miss Scarlet has attained an almost head-to-toe red colour palette, while Mrs White is almost completely monochrome. I’ll get over it.
Sandy Rustin has written the script, with additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price. There’s enough dialogue from the film to keep fans happy, while the new embellishments and additions, for the most part, feel purposeful.
The show runs for 90 minutes with no intermission. It’s fast-paced and fun, with not much time to catch your breath. The plot moves incredibly fast, especially in the final section known as The Revelation. One wonders if an extra 30 minutes and an intermission might have given the show, and its hard-working cast, a little more space to breathe.
As Wadsworth, Grant Piro leans into the vaudeville, delivering a performance full of over-the-top choices. Lawrence Boxhall’s Reverend Green pairs physical comedy with disarming English humour to garner genuine laughs from the audience.
Colonel Mustard’s character leans heavily into literal gags and wordplay, a departure from the original film that doesn’t always land. Adam Murphy confidently carries it though in a performance that is impossible not to like.
David James’ Professor Plum commands the stage with bravado and a boomy voice. Olivia Deeble blends wry humour and subtle charm, giving her Miss Scarlett a seductive allure.
Mrs Peacock embodies the all-too-familiar mother-in-law archetype, and Genevieve Lemon performs this delightfully painful character to a tee. Rachael Beck gives a wonderfully poised performance as the morbid Mrs White.
Octavia Barron-Martin, Lib Campbell, Nat Jobe, and Joshua Monaghan play all the other characters, including Mr Boddy, the Cook, Yvette, the motorist, the cop (known as ‘bobby’) and the singing telegram girl.
Cluedo the play knows exactly what it is and leans into it with confidence. This is slick, silly, old-fashioned fun, elevated by a fabulous design, a cast clearly up for the ride and a production team in on the joke.
Once you’ve enjoyed this stage production, I urge you to seek out the 1985 film, Clue. With a cast that includes Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Eileen Brennan, Martin Mull, Michael McKean and Lesley Ann Warren, it’s no wonder the film has cult status. Because going through life having not seen it? That is the real crime.
Cluedo runs to 1 February 2026 at The Playhouse, QPAC Brisbane. It then tours to Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. See dates below.
Tickets: https://cluedoplay.com.au/#tickets
Website: https://cluedoplay.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/cluedotheplay/
Photo credits: Jeff Busby
2026 Australian Tour Dates
Brisbane 7 January to 1 February, Playhouse Theatre, QPAC
Melbourne 7 February – 15 March, Comedy Theatre
Adelaide 21 March – 4 April, Her Majesty’s Theatre
Sydney 11 April – 8 May, Theatre Royal
