The Warehouse Theatre has scored a coup with its latest offering. Louise Tweddell goes on the hunt for Mr Big ...

MURDER, mystery and sex are all part of the seduction of this year's Christmas play at Croydon's Warehouse Theatre. The company is gearing up to launch what it hopes will be another roaring success with audiences.

Murder Mysteries is a world premiere and something of a coup for the theatre.

The show is based on the writings of Woody Allen and it's the first time the filmmaker has allowed his writing to be adapted for stage.

Murder Mysteries is based on a collection of stories written by Allen in the 1970s and 1980s.

The play tells the tale of Kaiser Lupowitz, a private eye who thinks he has seen it all before.

But this was before he meets a dynamite blonde who asks him to find Mr Big.

Seductive songs, original live jazz and black humour link together Allen's comic dramas.

Allen says he is excited to have his stories adapted by a skilful director such as Jayne Clarke. Jayne is also the artistic director and founder of I'm A Camera an Earls Court-based theatre group which seeks out previously-forgotten classic works.

Since 1999 the company has revived and adapted work from all over the world and patrons include Stephen Fry and Fiona Shaw.

Tom Stoppard, also a patron, said: "She struck me as a determined director with interesting ideas."

Warehouse Theatre's Christmas and New Year shows have been exciting audiences since 1998 and began with the BBC radio hit Dick Barton Secret Agent.

Music from the show was written by Clarke but composed by award-winning musical director Warren Wills, whose credits include Lady Day and Emerson's Bar and Grill.

He was recently nominated by the Evening Standard for his arrangements in the hit show Simply Heaven, which wowed audiences at the Old Vic and in the West End.

Murder Mysteries, Warehouse Theatre, Croydon, December 9 to February 19. Tickets £13 - £16. Call 020 8680 4060 or visit warehousetheatre.co.uk