Court in the Act (13–21) 18+

Court in the Act – a murder mystery party game with an Elizabethan setting for 13 to 21 guests.

"I bought this game to play with my Shakespeare class (the students were 12–18) – it was a very fancy affair. We just did it today. It was AWESOME. Everyone came in costume and had a blast. They were begging me to do it again!"
Susan Taylor, California, United States

Recommended for ages 18+
Costs US$39.99
Written by Mo Holkar

Court in the Act is a dinner party murder mystery game for 13 to 21 guests and one or two hosts – download the free introductory pdf file.

Join us at the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England for an evening of revelry, intrigue and murder. You will be in the middle of the action and it will be up to you to wheel and deal with the other guests. Can you achieve your goals, keep your secrets hidden and survive Court in the Act? It's up to you.

Court in the Act

The Court of St James's Palace, London, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. All present have but lately arrived from the Royal premier of Master Shakespeare's latest rib-tickling comedy, Two Ladies of Venice. Now, the Queen makes merry and entertains her courtiers, guests, would-be husbands and envoys from foreign powers with a sumptuous banquet. But while all prepare to feast and frolic, dark clouds gather, the sound of war-drums is heard in the distance - and that dear old man the Archbishop of Canterbury, who surely had never an enemy in the world, is found brutally murdered.

At Court in the Act you will discover the following:

• • Who murdered the Archbishop of Canterbury?
  • Why must Queen Elizabeth never marry?
  • Who wrote Shakespeare's plays?
  • What is the secret of Dr John Dee's magical powers?
  • ...and can England be saved from defeat by the Spanish Armada?

Find out in Court in the Act!

Court in the Act lasts for about four hours and is suited to an evening. It is often played over a meal – a finger buffet if possible to allow guests to circulate and talk in private.

"I use Court in the Act with students who are not able to go on our 8th grade Washington D.C. Trip. We have played it for three years now, and each year is different but amazing. The kids get involved and do a great job. They love being able to participate in something special that other kids don't do! Plus it ties in to our reading of "Much Ado about Nothing". Thanks for the great product! "
Shannyn Hanlon, United States

The free introductory pdf file contains an introduction to the game, a cast list of all the characters, and a copy of the Prologue – plus details of how to buy the game.

These are the characters in Court in the Act:

• • Doctor John Dee – Adept and Magus
  • Elizabeth – named Gloriana, a Queene
  • General FitzBacon – a commander of Irish mercenaryes and moss-troopers
  • His Eminence Diego Menendez de Aviles – Cardinal of Seville
  • His Grace Andrew Prim – Archbishop of York
  • Hobbs – a servant
  • Lady Catherine Northwood – lady-in-waiting upon Her Majesty
  • Lord Canning – military counsellor to ye Queene
  • Mary, Queen of Scots – a Dethroned Monarch
  • Master Chris. Marlowe – an established play-writer
  • Master Edward Kelley – an Associate of Doctor Dee
  • Master Wm. Shakespeare – an Actor of some new-found fame
  • Mistress Jane Dee – Wife to Doctor Dee
  • Mistress Nagel – a serving-wench
  • Philippe of France – a Junior Prince
  • Robert Deveraux, Earl of Essex – a Gallant and Peer of the Realm
  • Señor Juan Futin da Greve – Ambassador of the King of Spain
  • Signor Pico della Mirandola – a Philosopher of Venice
  • Sir Francis Drake – a most Daring sailor and Champion Bowler
  • Sir Francis Walsingham – close adviser to ye Queene
  • Sir Walter Raleigh – an Explorer

How Freeform Games Murder Mysteries Work

Court in the Act is unlike many murder mystery games. Although the game starts with a murder, most of the characters have more important things to do than to investigate it. And the killing may not be over – it is unlikely that everyone will survive the remainder of the evening!

Court in the Act is played just like a murder mystery game. You may be trying to solve the murder, but primarily you are (initially at least) concentrating on your own goals and objectives. Unlike most boxed murder mystery games, Court in the Act lets you decide how to achieve your goals and thwart your enemies.

"Court in the Act was amazing! We made so much food but everyone forgot to eat because they were so in to the game. We used our balcony for "private conversations". Very few of my guests had played a murder mystery game before but the ones who had agreed that this was a way better, more interactive set up."
Jo Dixon, Canada

On the evening of the game the guests are met by the organizer, the Chamberlain of the Court of St James. They then receive their detailed backgrounds - including dark secrets, objectives and money. When everyone has arrived the Chamberlain announces that, despite the recent tragic events, dinner will now be served. The fun then begins as everyone questions, bribes and blackmails each other. As the evening progresses they may even try to murder one another! Depending on what the players choose to do, there are several different possible endings, but finally everyone finds out how they did, and what secrets everyone else was concealing.

Extra characters

Sometimes you have too many guests and you need more characters. So we've written a free extra character for each of our games that you can add in, and some of our customers have created their own characters for their parties and are kindly willing to share them.

• • 'Ginger' Roberts – freelance reporter in search of the Big Story. (Any)
    (by Freeform Games)
  • Carlos Santiago – Assistant to the Spanish Ambassador (M)
    (by Pam Hoffmann and Jeremy Gustafson)
  • Syrino Foreal – Cardinal's under-secretary (M)
    (by Pam Hoffmann and Jeremy Gustafson)

Please note that we haven't always tested these – and they may not tie in exactly with our games.