If you grew up snapping little plastic weapons out of a cardboard insert and accusing your siblings of murder with wild confidence, then Cluedo at the Playhouse, QPAC, is your people. And if the 1985 film starring Tim Curry lives rent-free in your brain, unpack your bags; this production knows exactly who it’s flirting with.
The play follows the film’s script closely, and that’s not a criticism—it’s the point. This is Parker Brothers’ Clue for the US kids, Cluedo for us, served with a knowing grin and a raised eyebrow. The jokes land fast. The show winks constantly. It understands that half the joy is recognition, the other half is watching it all spin slightly out of control.
The dialogue is dense with puns and delivered at a bullet pace. Miss one and you’ll catch the next. Physical comedy is everywhere, and the cast commit fully, bodies doing just as much work as the lines. It’s playful, silly, and surprisingly athletic.
The set design is a standout. Boddy Manor stretches across the stage as six doors, each sliding and pulling out to reveal a new room from the game. Library. Conservatory. Study. Kitchen. They’re all there, revealed like party tricks, each one getting its moment. It’s clever, fluid, and deeply satisfying for anyone who’s ever memorised the board layout like gospel.
Costumes deserve their own round of applause. They’re iconic without being precious, instantly readable, and worn with confidence. This show leans into camp so hard it does a slapstick pratfall and keeps going—and thank goodness. It knows what it is. It doesn’t apologise. It invites you in on the joke and invites us all to don our detective hats and join in on the chaos.
Standouts? Laurence Boxhall’s Reverend Green is a masterclass in commitment. He doesn’t just play the character; he inhabits him, start to finish, with precision and control. Rachel Beck is deliciously unhinged as Mrs White, dialling the melodrama up and snapping the knob clean off. And Grant Piro’s reenactment of the famous Tim Curry monologue is a joy—huge energy, sharp timing, and a clear love for the source material without slipping into parody.
There were a few dips in energy on the night I attended, but they never lasted. This is a no-interval show, and it asks a lot of its cast. They rally every time.
Cluedo is silly camp fun, delivered with confidence and affection. If you want theatre that doesn’t take itself seriously but takes its audience very seriously, this is it. Highly recommended. Bring your inner detective. Leave your dignity at the door.
WHAT: Cluedo the Play
WHERE: The Playhouse, QPAC
WHEN: Until Feb 1, 2026
TICKETS: Grab your tickets to see Cluedo the Play in Brisbane here.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
