“A grizzled New York Detective embarks on his final, most deadly and most RIDICULOUS case yet. Join Detective Gumshoe as he attempts to solve the unsolvable case. Who did the whodunnit?”
Writer-performer Christian Dart submits to our interrogation.
Where: The Actors – Theatre
When: 3-4 May
Ticket link: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/christian-dart-gumshoe/
Can you tell us a bit about your new show?
GUMSHOE! was really born out of my love for cinema. It’s my love letter to film noir, comedy, clown, and murder mystery.
The idea came to me one night at about 3AM where I asked myself “What if I wrote a show about a grizzled detective from New York and a member of the audience was the catalyst for his last ever case?” and it spiralled from there.
GUMSHOE! made it to the grand final of Sketch-Off! 2025, was nominated for Best Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival, and now he’s surfing his way into Brighton for more.
I brought my sister Johanna Dart into the production as a co-director and manager of tech because there is a LOT of sound used in this show, I needed somebody I knew I could trust. And she’s been phenomenal.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve created and can’t wait to show it to the people of Brighton.
It’s a big anniversary for Brighton Fringe this year – what do you like most about it?
I love the atmosphere of Brighton Fringe and the audiences. It has a real party vibe to it, and everyone is up for a good time. There’s a sort of magic in the air you can’t quite replicate, either that or I’ve inhaled too much sea air. Oh, and of course, the chips. And the fish. And the ice cream. And the donuts.
I called you ‘an affable idiot with a winning smile’ on your last show – still true? 🙂
I really hope so! I’ve done nothing to alter either my idiocy or my smile, as much as my dentist tries, so I’m hoping this continues to be true for many, many years.
(I love that quote so much. It’s on all my posters)
What else is in the pipeline after these shows?
As well as GUMSHOE! I’m also touring the new Bad Clowns show Long Live The King and hosting a cabaret in Kingston every month called Bad Clowns & Good Friends. All three of which will be making their way to sunny, sunny Edinburgh for the Fringe.
Along the way I’ll be taking GUMSHOE! and LLTK to Wimbledon Theatre and FUSE Festival in Kingston. Then, after all this I’m just waiting for Netflix to offer me a couple million for the rights to GUMSHOE! Smooth sailing from there.
Sell us your show in three words!
Five. Star. Show.