2.“An unsuitable job for a woman”: The Murder Mystress reaches a century
“An unsuitable job for a woman”
The Murder Mystress reaches a century
Joy Swift’s Original Murder Weekends will reach a unique milestone in September 2008 when it begins its 100th plot. This puts the company ahead of the Queen of Murder Agatha Christie, who only published 97 plots. After 27 years, the company is still passionately driven by its founder and managing director Joy Swift MBE.
“I’m so proud to be celebrating this landmark in the company’s history,” says Joy, one of the North’s most celebrated businesswomen. “I’ve run the business single-handedly since inventing the ‘murder weekends’ concept in 1981. I devise the plots, recruit the cast, direct the weekends and even supervise booking systems. Occasionally, I still act in the weekends. In 27 years, we’ve seen over 6000 ‘murders’ and entertained 100,000 people across the UK, USA, Europe – and (of course!) on the Nile.”
Joy is firm in her belief of what has kept her at the helm for 100 plots. “Undoubtedly, it’s about the pleasure we give people. I’m still motivated by the delight on people’s faces and the sincere appreciation that people show us at the end of the weekend.”
“I think the secret of our success is three-fold”, she adds. “First – we don’t make it easy! People love to test their brains on fiendishly difficult puzzles and twists – we always have at least three murders to solve. That means there’s a real sense of satisfaction in figuring out whodunnit. Secondly – we’re highly realistic. We use TV-quality make-up, topical themes and actors who can be pretty full-on when they’re asked to play adulterers, psychopaths or masochists! But ultimately, the real secret of success is that we have fun! People dress up, make new friends and generally let themselves play! Time and again we’re told how much guests laughed during the weekend.”
The 100th plot – “100 Not Out” – is a classic English village murder mystery, complete with dastardly deeds at Munchampton Cricket Club. It runs in Mercure Hotels across the UK from xx September to New Year’s Eve 2008. “I wanted my 100th plot to pay tribute to the Queen of Golden Age detective stories, Agatha Christie – so what else could I do but create a village murder?” laughs Joy.
Joy Swift is available for interview and makes an excellent sofa guest and interviewee
If you would like to review one of Joy Swift’s Original
Murder Weekends for your publication or programme,
please telephone 0151 924 1124 or email joy@murder.co.uk
