Experience an Interactive online murder mystery experience with “The Bride Always Knocks Twice — Killer Secrets” 《她门的秘密》(31 May to 5 Jun 2021)

Bored and looking for something new to do?

Promising to inject some excitement into an otherwise humdrum week is The Theatre Practice’s (Practice) new interactive multi-platform murder mystery, The Bride Always Knocks Twice — Killer Secrets 《她门的秘密》.

I attended the web session for Chapter 1 on Tuesday evening and found the experience refreshing. Rather than just doing just a theatre performance that is an online screening of the physical version, the folks at Practice added interactive elements to fully enhance the entertainment experience.

You can read up on the characters prior to viewing the show and partake in the live “interrogation” session with the performers in their respective characers, together with other members of the audience remotely.

Chapter 1 and 2 ends with a cliffhanger, enticing you to read more on the case files while anticipating the release of the following Chapters.

Synopsis – Escape Into A World of Drama and Mystery

Leave present day Singapore behind and step into a mysterious house outside of time and space. Meet seven women from seven different eras. Within this safe haven, they call each other sister… until one of them is found murdered. As buried secrets and hidden grudges rise to the surface, who is guilty? Practice invites you to join them to find out.

Supported by Singapore Tourism Board and Hotel Soloha, The Bride Always Knocks Twice — Killer Secrets is a week-long experience that combines digital theatre and live online interrogations hosted on the “Digital Stage” (brideknockstwice.com), with on-site investigations at Hotel Soloha.

Part game, part theatre, participants take on the role of investigator to solve the mystery across four chapters.

Chapter 1: Conflicts: Watch loyalties and conflicts play out before the murder.

Chapter 2: Lies: Question two out of five suspects to uncover motives and alibis.

Chapter 3: Crime Scene: Enter the house, search the rooms and gather clues. (Additional experience not included in ticket price)

Chapter 4: Revelations: Watch as the killer is finally unmasked.

Trust Your Instincts And Follow Your Hunches

Nothing beats the rush of successfully untangling a complex murder mystery. The Bride Always Knocks Twice — Killer Secrets promises to empower participants by allowing us to direct their own investigation.

“I love games and puzzles”, laughs director Kuo Jian Hong. “So I know how important player agency is. They choose what to investigate, who to speak to, what questions to ask… it’s entirely in their hands.” Participants also have the option of teaming up with friends to cover more ground by buying device bundles.

A grand prize of $1,000 cash and two nights stay at Hotel Soloha adds further incentive to solving the mystery. To ensure only the cleverest prevail, participants must identify the killer and justify it with a credible case.

While Practice recommends participating fully for a complete and rewarding experience, participants can also choose to sit back, relax and watch the mystery unfold.

Innovating For The Future: Presenting Practice’s Most Ambitious Work To Date

From the promenade theatre experience Four Horse Road, to the 55-hour livestream Practice 55, Practice is no stranger to creating large-scale, boundary-pushing works. In 2020, Practice was one of the first theatre companies to embrace the digital medium, and The Bride Always Knocks Twice — Killer Secrets blends online and offline storytelling into a hybrid format.

Helming it is Practice’s Artistic Director, and an award-winning theatre director, lighting and set designer and independent filmmaker Kuo Jian Hong. “This format really suits the interactive nature of murder mysteries, but it does require assembling a team from different backgrounds and practices,” Kuo notes. “Basically, we’re drawing from theatre, film, gaming, design, history and UX design to create this hybrid form.”

Kuo is joined by an all-star team including veteran theatre playwrights Jonathan Lim (Four Horse Road, Chestnuts) and Liu Xiaoyi (Citizen X, Southernmost Project), and film stalwarts like filmmaker and producer Kat Goh (Dance Dance Dragon, Swimming Lesson), art director James Page (Tiong Bahru Social Club, A Land Imagined) and film score producer Joe Ng (HBO’s Invisible Stories, From Victoria Street To Ang Mo Kio). The production’s theme song, Sister, The Moon, also features lyrics and performance by Sing! China finalist and jazz vocalist Joanna Dong.

Extend Your Experience With New Ways To Rediscover Singapore

“Arts and tourism were some of the key industries impacted by the pandemic,” notes Daniel Goh, Practice’s Executive Director and Partnerships Lead. “This project is the perfect example of how creativity and cross-industry collaboration can lead to new possibilities. By combining forces, we become stronger together!” By working with new partners, Practice is optimistic that more Singaporeans will embrace theatre as a local attraction.

Singaporeans can get more bang for their buck by combining your tickets with a staycation at Hotel Soloha using the SingapoRediscover Vouchers for the exclusive package on KLOOK, Traveloka and Trip.com. Located on Keong Siak Street, explore Chinatown’s rich historical offerings and trendy restaurants during your stay.
Participants can also choose to extend their experience with Tea Time Tales. This additional programme is an intimate storytelling-meets-high tea experience filled with delicious delicacies from Chinatown and tales inspired by the seven women.