Whodunnit? Graduates’ theatre company earns standing ovation at Camden Fringe

Five Southampton Solent University graduates have turned their Final Major Project into a professional touring theatre company, performing at one of the UK's leading arts festivals.

Silver Stage Theatre Company, founded by recent graduates of Solent's acting and performance courses, has been turning heads at this year's Camden Fringe with their debut production, Club Mistero, a fast-paced whodunnit set in a prohibition-era New York nightclub.

The production started life as the graduates' Final Major Project, first developed and performed at Solent's MAST Mayflower Studios. The graduates then took it on the road, touring small regional theatres across the UK before landing at Theatro Technis as part of the fringe festival.

Sarah Mepham, Solent Senior Lecturer in Performance, says their success shows exactly what practice-led learning can achieve:

"Watching these graduates take a Final Major Project from the studio at MAST Mayflower Studios all the way to Camden Fringe, entirely under their own steam, shows the kind of confidence, resilience and professionalism our practice-led approach to teaching at Solent is designed to build. I couldn't be prouder of what they've achieved."

Club Mistero follows a classic Agatha Christie-style structure, with a showgirl murdered in a sleazy 1920s nightclub and graduates taking on responsibilities that go beyond performing.

George McLean-Wade wrote the production and plays mobster nightclub owner Frank. Niamh Boyle designed the lighting and sound while also playing dancer Irene. Sofia Romano led hair and makeup design alongside her role as showgirl Bonnie. Evelyn Foy heads up the company and plays Adeline. Borna Vitlov choreographed the fight scenes as well as playing barman Tony.

Between them, the team has handled writing, performing, producing, designing and touring a professional show, the kind of hands-on, portfolio-building experience that sits at the heart of Solent's practice-led approach.

For Evelyn, the journey from student project to professional theatre company has shown just how much can grow from a Final Major Project: “After our final performance we secured funding from Barclays Eagle Labs, with the support of Solent we were then ready to take our show across the UK on tour. The support and skills gained from Solent helped bridge the transition from FMP in it to fully fledged company.

“As an emerging theatre company, we took a gamble on our show, but the risk was worth it, on tour we got to perform at some amazing venues including ones in Wales, Devon and Dorset. We ended tour by performing two nights at Camden Fringe 2026 in Theatro Technis, a wonderful intimate theatre. We were reviewed by Theatre Reviewers and are now working on a follow up tour next year and writing our second play, also looking at producing and taking out in autumn 2027. Performing has always been our greatest passion, and we are so grateful for the start to our journey”

Club Mistero has now completed its run at Camden Fringe. For Silver Stage Theatre Company, it marks the start of a career built on the same skills, experience and confidence that defined their time at Solent.