The long tradition of Habs Edinburgh Festival Fringe performances continued this year with pupils from the both the Boys’ and Girls’ School performing in The Hampstead Murder Mystery! at the Pleasance Dome between Friday 7 and Saturday 22 August.

This wonderfully tongue-in-cheek detective story spoof set in the 1920s was wittily written and inventively designed and co-directed by Head of Drama, Mr Norton, who continues to nurture the next generation of performers by creating exciting and riveting new theatre.

When High Court Judge Sir Horace Fewbanks is found dead in his Hampstead home, Detective Inspector Chippenfield from New Scotland Yard, and his rooky assistant Detective Sergeant Rolfe are on the case. But will the suave private detective Montague Crewe, superbly played by Marcus Rapacioli (OH 2015), beat the Scotland Yard detectives in solving the case?

The Hampstead Murder Mystery! was beautifully costumed with a striking set design of moving screens that became panels in stately homes, bookcases, a variety of doors, sweet shops and law courts, all moved with precision and discipline by the cast, and cleverly used projection that created flickering cinema scenes.

The British Theatre Guide, who gave the performance five stars, said: “Technically complex, it is executed with professional flair by these youngsters whose performances belie their age. Many theatre companies could learn from their high energy and immense physicality skills.”

The production also received rave reviews and five-star ratings from EdFest Magazine and Theatre Guide London, among others.

The thespian stars were Sixth Form members Bilal Hasna and Isaac Zamet; Harry Kingdon (OH 2015), Marcus Rapacioli (OH 2015) and Jake Krais (OH 2015); and Faith Colenutt and Frankie Thompson from the Girls’ School Sixth Form. Both schools are immensely proud of the efforts by all who took part in the production and look forward to next year’s production with great anticipation.