Heartbeat Reunion: Jason Durr Teams Up With Co-Star For Murder Mystery Tour

Heartbeat actor Jason Durr is reunited with one of his co-stars from the Yorkshire set ITV series in a new stage play.

The director of the Original Theatre production Murder at Midnight – which comes to York Theatre Royal from 21-25 October – is Philip Franks.

“He played Sergeant Craddock to my PC Mike Bradley back in our Heartbeat days, when we spent several happy years up in Leeds filming the show,” explains Durr.

“He’s become not just a dear friend but a terrific director as well. So it’s lovely to be working with him again. And I’ve wanted to work with Original Theatre since they started 20 years ago, so it’s great we’ve finally made it happen.”

Murder at Midnight is a comedy-thriller that Durr describes as a blend of razor sharp wit and gripping murder mystery, full of twists and turns, dark humour, and chilling suspense. “Throw in a suitcase full of cash, a bunch of ravenous dogs, a chainsaw and an unsolved murder, and what’s not to like?” he says.

Durr plays a colourful character known as Jonny the Cyclops who lives in a luxury Kent mansion, where the play is set.

“Essentially he’s a one-eyed drug dealer, pig farmer, and notorious gangland killer, whose past is catching up with him fast. Everyone in the play is hiding something, not least Jonny. We also meet his mum, his girlfriend, his trigger-happy sidekick, a vicar, and a nervous burglar dressed as a clown. It’s a heady blend, and I can’t wait to bring Jonny to life.

“If Tarantino was to write a play, this would be it. And I can guarantee it will keep the audience guessing almost until the curtain comes down.”

The cast also includes some other familiar TV faces including Susie Blake (who also starred in Murder in the Dark), Max Bowden (from EastEnders) and Katie McGlynn (from Coronation street and Hollyoaks).

“It’s a fantastic company, we’re really blessed,” says Durr. “When you get to work with people with naturally funny bones it’s just such a delight. We’re still in rehearsals but we get on famously already, so I’m sure that’ll continue out on tour. We’ve got a great support cast as well, an outstanding bunch of actors. I think one of the challenges will be that we might have too much fun, and I’ll be struggling not to laugh the whole time.”

Durr enjoys touring and knows very well a lot of the venues Murder at Midnight is visiting. “The venues are just right for the show, intimate enough that the audience will feel they’re really part of the show. I’m looking forward to seeing how audiences in different parts of the country react and keeping them on the edges of their seats.”

He always knew I wanted to act, every since being a young boy. “We had a dressing up trunk full of funny hats and props, which I loved playing with then and have ever since. I’ve been fortunate in my career, starting off at the Royal Shakespeare Company and then getting to explore a huge range of roles on screen as well,” he says.

He loves the variety of roles and “mixing things up”, explaining “I’ve got to play everything from a knight in shining armour in Gawain and the Green Knight, to a gay punk in Young Soul Rebels, to a sociopathic serial killer in Above Suspicion. I even played Tony Blair on stage in the satire Follow My Leader, which was a riot.

“It’s difficult to pinpoint a favourite, but I just try to bring humanity to all of them. The most interesting role is always the next one, and Jonny the Cyclops is certainly interesting.

“I still get people talking to me about Heartbeat, and saying they’d love the show to come back. I also often have people ask me about my character in Casualty, who had bipolar disorder, and they'll say he helped them to understand the condition better, which is lovely.

“But every conversation is different. It’s still the strangest thing when you’re on holiday somewhere and someone will walk up to you and say how much they enjoyed the TV series Above Suspicion.”

Away from acting, he lives in the Cotswolds. “I love being surrounded by nature,” he says. “I probably need to get out more, because I spend more time talking to animals than people.

But I also love to keep fit whether it’s going to the gym or climbing, and I read a lot as well. When you’re on stage or filming a TV show it can be very intense, so living in a rural setting is the ideal way to get away from it, and spark new ideas.”

Murder at Midnight: York Theatre Royal, 21-25 October.
Box office 01904 623568 / yorktheatreroyal.co.uk