As director and performer of Murder She Didn’t Write, London-based improvisor and theatre performer Lizzy Skrzypiec returns to Australia with a murder mystery comedy that puts the whodunit in your hands.
On stage she’s Agatha Crusty – the detective narrator who brings a dose of silly spontaneity to the Adelaide Fringe following its long history at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Lizzy Skrzypiec spoke to The Write Drop for our At The Bar series.
MY CITY
London.
Why do I love it? My goodness, because it’s so big you can pick areas you like and get to know them. The suspects in my London backstory are Soho, Tooting, Balham and Wimbledon. Each area has a different vibe and motives to explore. Soho with its artsy late-night vibe, Tooting with its bustling market, Balham with its quaint brunch spots and Wimbledon with its sprawling common and pretty restaurants. I truly believe London is a city you can never get bored with if you explore beyond the central areas.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
One dish I could devour again and again leaving little to no evidence can be found at Hide in Mayfair (a very beautiful restaurant in a very fancy area of London). I indulged my little grey cells by sampling their tasting menu and had a spectacular dish of tulips stuffed with scallops (a pairing I wouldn’t normally have thought massively flavourful). But like Poirot and Hastings they complemented each other perfectly. The dish was so delicate and playful on my palette that I made some very unusual noises throughout eating it. However, the basket of breads, served at the start of the meal was cooked in beef fat which made them feel like a meal in themselves. I actually took an extra portion home because it would be a crime not to enjoy them a second time.
FAVOURITE BAR
My favourite joint to sniff out both clues and a delicious wine in London is Le Beaujolais. Its aesthetic is similar to the inside of Miss Marple’s cupboards. Every inch of wall and ceiling is adorned with glasses, old posters, random brick-a-brack and bank notes. Its wine list is exclusively French. They don’t take bookings so if you can find a free table amongst the ten to twelve in there it’s yours. And the thing I love about it the most is it’s the type of place you can spend a whole evening. Grab a cheese board, some bread, a nice bottle and chat the evening away. I’m often there with a cheeky bottle of delicious house Sauvignon Blanc – a great alibi for any wine lover.
DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU
Negroni Spagliato with Prosecco in it.
I have picked this as both a representation of me and my detective character Agatha Crusty. Some serious ingredients as the basis for my cerebral approach to solving the case, topped up with some effervescent Prosecco and chaos brought by the improvised and playful nature of Crusty and her more devious side.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
Once the crime of overindulgence has been committed and I’m left with the painful evidence of an entertaining evening I usually like to spend my hangovers in a shame spiral with a mixture of Instagram scrolling, Berocca, Milk Thistle tablets, water and so much concealer that you can’t see the contours of my tired face.
BEST INTERSTATE BAR
I’m looking forward to sampling Burdette in Adelaide’s Union Street. It seems like the perfect place a weary murder mystery detective might rest her handbag and have a nice tipple.
LONDON BAR TO VISIT
Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat restaurants have a lovely bar, and they do Lucky Cat Negronis where you roll three dice. One for the gin, one for the vermouth and one for the Campari and the higher the specific dice roll the more expensive the spirit they use. If the dice says 1 it’s a basic spirit and 6 is the best of that ingredient they have. A nice bit of fun for a round or two I think, especially comparing our different mixtures. It pleases my improv brain and my tastebud.
FAVOURITE WINE
I love an Alsace wine. And my favourite is a Gwertztraminer. It’s a bit of a punch in the face flavour wise as a white wine but it’s floral as hell and I love it. Me and my dad both have a big love for this wine so it’s a great way to bond as we drink this and play an obscene amount of Monopoly Deal when the family is together.
FAVOURITE WINERY
I am very excited to visit a winery or two whilst I am in Adelaide. My only previous experience was visiting Denbie’s Wine Estate in Surrey, UK. But I feel like Australians might like to go there to see how laughably bad some British wines can be. Although they do a bottle of sparkling wine that was very very delicious but maybe give some of the still ones a swerve.
NEXT DESTINATION
Murder, She Didn’t Write is off on a cruise. We are performing on the Queen Anne from Southampton to Tenerife. Post Adelaide we will be performing around the UK and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.
https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/murder-she-didn-t-write-af2026
