Interactive Murder Mysteries
How It Works
The night kicks off at cocktail hour, where you’re introduced to the colourful characters and immersed into the theme—whether it’s a Roaring ’20s party, a wedding, or even a funeral! Our actors mingle with guests, break the ice with hilarious scenes, and start dropping hints right away.
Once dinner is served, the plot thickens…
Not Your Typical Dinner Theatre
Unlike traditional stage shows, our murder mysteries are interactive and casual. Guests are free to chat and enjoy their meal. Only a few scenes require full attention—just enough to keep everyone hooked without interrupting the social vibe.
Throughout the evening, characters circulate among tables, dropping juicy gossip, revealing secrets, and sparking dramatic showdowns. Each show includes interactive challenges, like:
- A pig-calling contest at the Hillbilly Wedding
- ’80s trivia at the High School Reunion
- A cheeky dating game during our Valentine’s show
Don’t worry—participation is always voluntary. We never force anyone to join in, but those who do often become the stars of the night (with photos to prove it!).
Clues, Chaos, and Comedy
Expect stabbings, gunshots, poisonings, and the occasional hanging—right before your eyes! Our sharp-witted detective guides the investigation while you sift through evidence, question suspects, and try to crack the case.
You’ll receive a suspect list and a ballot early in the evening. At the end, hand in your solution to compete for the coveted Super Sleuth certificate—or perhaps the Bumbling Fool award for the most hilarious theory.
Plan Your Murder Your Way
You provide the venue and meal—we bring the mystery! Our shows can take place anywhere: private homes, restaurants, hotels, community centres, or wherever your group gathers.
We perform for no extra travel fees in: Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Moncton, Fredericton, and Halifax, and can travel to nearly any other city in Canada for an additional fee.
What’s Not Included?
We do not provide:
- The venue or catering
- A sound system (required for groups over 45 or rooms with poor acoustics)
- Venue-specific setup
We do ask for a small backstage area for costume changes, props—and possibly the occasional victim.
Pricing
Most shows range from $1,000 to $4,000, depending on group size, number of actors, and travel. A full show typically costs around $2,500, and we’re happy to work with your budget where possible.
Small group? We offer one-actor shows for groups under 12 (available in select cities) starting at $750, where you and your guests play the characters while we guide the action.
Public event? We can partner with you on a ticketed show, usually priced between $30–$50 per person, depending on size and location.
🎭 Email us today for a custom quote and let’s bring some mystery to your next event!
Where we perform
Smoking Gun works with local and regional performers across Canada, in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Find murder mystery entertainment in your city, or tell us your venue and we will confirm the nearest cast.
Where we perform
Smoking Gun performs across Canada, and the practical answer to “do you come to us” is almost always yes. We have local and regional casts in Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Moncton and Fredericton, which covers most of our bookings with no extra travel charge.
Beyond those centres we travel regularly, and a good share of our favourite shows have been well outside a major city, in community halls, golf clubs, resorts and small town legions. If your venue is somewhere between our cities, tell us where and when and we will confirm the nearest cast and any travel cost before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the evening take?
The show is built around your event rather than dropped into the middle of it, so the length follows the format: about an hour for a lunchtime session, and up to about three hours for a larger group over dinner, from the first character arriving at cocktail hour to the final reveal. We work to your schedule, so tell us what time you are seated and we will fit around it.
Will it interrupt dinner?
No, and that is deliberate. Unlike traditional dinner theatre the show is casual and interactive, so guests are free to chat and eat throughout. Only a few scenes ask for the room’s full attention, which is enough to keep everyone hooked without killing the social atmosphere.
What is not included in the price?
We do not provide the venue, the catering, a sound system or venue-specific setup. A sound system is required for groups over 45 or rooms with poor acoustics. We do ask for a small backstage area for costumes, props and the occasional victim.
Is it suitable for a mixed group or a family audience?
Yes. We can keep a show family-friendly or corporate-safe, or let it run cheekier for an adult private party. Tell us who is in the room when you enquire and we will match the tone.
Do you come to smaller towns?
Often, yes. There is no extra travel fee in our core cities, and we travel to nearly any other city in Canada for an additional fee that depends on the date, the size of the cast and the distance. If there is no troupe nearby we will tell you honestly what it would take to bring one.
What do guests actually get to do?
Everyone receives a suspect list and a ballot early in the evening. Guests question suspects, compare evidence and hand in their solution at the end, competing for the Super Sleuth certificate or the Bumbling Fool award for the most entertaining wrong answer.
