Do you enjoy whodunits and fancy yourself a bit of an amateur sleuth? Put your deduction skills to the test by taking part in A Chef’s Confession, a murder mystery dinner experience set in 1930s Malaya.
Held in Melaka over four weekends in July and August, the immersive experience is presented by Krate Creative Space in collaboration with The Garden@Heeren, a heritage Peranakan venue on Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock.
Guests are invited to step into a story where secrets simmer beneath the surface of elegance and tradition. The evening begins with a multiple course Peranakan dinner, including favourites such as pie tee, pongteh chicken, cincalok omelette and more.
As the meal unfolds, so does a mystery: guests will encounter characters, uncover clues, engage in roleplay and move through the space as active participants in the story, rather than passive spectators. Audiences can even choose to be bystanders or to play a crucial role in how the story plays out.
Guests are encouraged to come for dinner dressed in their finest vintage or Peranakan-inspired attire, and throughout the evening, you’ll be interacting with other guests and the professional cast, exploring the rooms of the house, and piecing the clues together to solve the mystery.
The two-and-a half hour show, recommended for those aged 15 and above, features two alternate endings – the first two weekends will have one ending, while the last two weekends will have the other – offering returning audiences an entirely different resolution and experience.
The cast, which features some familiar faces from previous Krate productions, includes Francis Augustine as Detective Raymond, Sonia Lee as Miss Irene, Lee You Meng as Baba Pang, Elijah Skye as Peter Pang and Neena Shu as Mama Maria.
Never the same
A Chef’s Confession, performed in English, is written and directed by Wee Shyre May, founder and director of Krate Creative Space.
The story takes place at the grand reopening of a beautifully refurbished restaurant, where guests have been invited to experience the celebrated cuisine of the renowned Chef Fa, but what begins as a celebratory occasion quickly takes a dark turn when a shocking tragedy unfolds.
Fortunately, a detective happens to be in attendance and immediately takes charge of the investigation. From then on, the audience becomes part of the story and will work alongside the detective to inspect crime scenes, search for hidden clues, question suspects, and piece together the mystery. At the end of the experience, they must present their own verdict and decide who they believe the killer is.
Melaka-based Wee, who has written and developed all of Krate Creative Space’s highly interactive productions, said she had long wanted to create a murder mystery.
“The biggest challenge was finding the right collaborators and the right venue. When we discovered this beautiful heritage space, everything just fell into place. A classic heritage house naturally lends itself to mystery, suspense and storytelling,” says Wee.
“Melaka is also synonymous with its rich food culture, so I wanted to create an experience that combines theatre with dining. Instead of simply watching a performance, guests are transported back to the 1930s through all five senses, from the setting and costumes to the food, music and interactions,” she adds.
Wee says that compared to Krate’s previous productions, A Chef’s Confession is its most interactive work yet – a fully improvised, walk-through whodunit where every audience makes different choices, leading to unique interactions and discoveries throughout the investigation.
“I’m most excited to see how every audience shapes the experience. No two performances are exactly alike because the audience drives the investigation. Different groups will ask different questions, uncover different clues and interact with the suspects in their own way. We also have two alternate endings, so returning guests can enjoy a completely different experience,” says Wee.
Learning to adapt
Established in 2016, Krate Creative Space is Melaka’s first independent creative community specialising in customised, interactive and multi-disciplinary live performances.
It has staged over 10 original productions to date, building a loyal audience base and a reputation for high-quality, meaningful live experiences that connect people to stories, spaces and shared cultural identity.
While around half of Krate’s guests come from Melaka, many more travel from the Klang Valley, Penang, Johor and Singapore for its shows. Wee notes that they’ve even welcomed tourists from further afield who are looking for unique cultural experiences beyond the traditional sightseeing.
“One thing we’re especially grateful for is our loyal community. Many of our returning audiences are willing to travel wherever we stage a production, and that’s been incredibly encouraging for us as independent theatremakers,” says Wee.
She admits that it hasn’t been easy for Krate to keep its doors open, which is why they have learned to constantly adapt, diversifying beyond staging performances alone.
Based in Bukit Beruang, Melaka, Krate’s creative hub – consisting of a rehearsal area, studio and discussion space – also doubles as a cafe.
“We’ve always believed that immersive theatre can become part of Malaysia’s cultural tourism, especially in heritage cities like Melaka.
“Looking ahead, our goal is to establish a permanent home in the city where we can present heritage-inspired immersive experiences on a regular basis. We hope that will allow both locals and tourists to enjoy original Malaysian stories throughout the year,” says Wee.
Last year in May, Krate brought its original production The Best Nyonya to Penang for the first time, performing at Georgetown Mansion.
A Chef’s Confession will be staged over four weekends from July 5 to Aug 8. More info here.
