Diners can play an active role or simply spectate the show, with those participating having to assist Detective Raymond in his investigation (All photos: Krate Creative Space)
The whodunnit is one of popular fiction’s most compelling genres. From the pioneering sagas of Sherlock Holmes to comedic cult classics like Clue (1985) and modern media icon Benoit Blanc’s dapper deductions and dripping drawl, there is undeniable joy in watching each dishevelled string come elegantly (or chaotically) together in a complete, seamless web.
In fact, the only thing more satisfying than the grand reveal of how every smidgen of evidence is interconnected is beating the narrative to the punch. In that moment when your series-long hunch is vindicated in a climactic monologue, you, too, are a genius detective who cracked the case and gets to smugly declare, “I knew it!” — at least, in your heart.
The aspiring sleuth convinced they could pull it off in real life will soon have the opportunity to put their money where their mouth is, as Krate Creative Space in Melaka unveils its latest immersive theatre project. Opening July 11, A Chef’s Confession is an interactive murder mystery dinner experience set in 1930s Malaya, revolving around a tragic incident that occurs on the night of a restaurant’s new opening. A collaboration between Krate and The Garden @ Heeren, one of the city’s premiere heritage dining rooms, this latest brainchild of director Wee Shyre May brings guests through a world where opulence is the name and secrecy is the game.
“This is our first collaboration with a restaurant. I’ve known the real chef who works here since 2017, when I first began. He is the most Peranakan dude you’ve ever met, but he never wants to be on stage! He kept saying no to me, which made me want to write a story about a chef,” quips the Krate founder. Discussions began with the owners of local institutions Peranakan Mansion and Heeren Mansion, after which Wee met architect Hau, a co-owner of The Garden @ Heeren, who was interested in having Krate put on a show at the outlet.
“I felt like, ‘Okay, this has huge potential’. Many heritage houses aren’t necessarily agreeable to murder mysteries — bad energy, I guess — but I told them this was going to be a comedy.”
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Though the setting and concept came easily, ironing out the moving parts of a live-action role-playing production took her over three months of research.
“The thing is, I don’t really know if Melaka is ready for this,” she laughs. “Audiences are so used to sitting down and watching. We need to change the mindset of what a show can be. I even bought some board games from the US and have been reading a lot online to figure out how it can be as interactive as possible. I’m not a game master, so this was a tricky one to figure out the flow and timing for.”
Ahead of time, diners will be asked if they would like to play an active role or simply spectate — vintage apparel or cultural costumes are recommended to suit the era. Upon arrival, those participating are offered parts and cue cards detailing what information to suss out from cast members and other guests. Food comes first: a curated menu of authentic, pork-free Peranakan cuisine, consisting of traditional dishes like pie tee, chicken pongteh and siakap chin chuan, will be served sharing-style at tables of eight. Stay alert throughout your meal though, as a shocking turn of events will then require you to go undercover and assist Detective Raymond in his investigation.
“They will ‘interview’ the characters, search for clues and match them to fingerprints, and by the end they get to present their findings and make an accusation,” says Wee. The audience will be divided into groups of three to encounter, question and cross-examine five actors spread about the property over a 2.5-hour programme.
Unlike past productions like The Great Gossip, a tale of riches and scandal in the Roaring Twenties, the director explains, “For this, I wanted my characters to be obnoxious. The Great Gossip was grand and pretty but A Chef’s Confession is real, awkward and hot-tempered. It’s set in the 1930s, a time when there was a lot of unaddressed trauma and people then didn’t know how to handle their egos. It was all about power.”
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Wee’s characters also tend to mirror their real-world counterparts, reflecting the diversity intrinsic to Melaka. “I’m very excited to say I’m working with a 70-year-old volleyball coach, who will be portraying Baba Pang. We’ve been practising for about two months now and he’s getting very good!” she shares. On top of Peranakan and Portuguese influences, the plot will carry hints of the Japanese pre-war presence in the region. Plus, staging these shows within traditional venues, and then inviting guests to actually explore these spaces throughout the course of the performance, reveals intricate details and dimensions that could not be captured from the single-perspective view of a stage.
Playing inspector can be thrilling for those with an inner thespian but, understandably, some guests may have trouble committing to the bit. How do the performers match that energy to avoid a spanner getting thrown in the works?
“Lots of training. We are rehearsing like mad now and I always give them these scenarios of, say, what if this audience member does not respond to you? How will you react? Or what if they overcompensate and want to be the star? It’s really up to the actors to be grounded enough to handle the whole situation, to keep the plot in mind and not derail it or break character. Of course, we understand the introverts attending, so we have a script for that too,” explains Wee, ensuring audiences of all acting capabilities are welcome. A strong supporting team of ushers also keeps things running smoothly.
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Much like how Clue showed varying theatrical finales, A Chef’s Confession will feature two alternative endings, meaning participants who enjoyed it once could invite friends for a second round and still experience something new. As the company’s most engaging production to date, Wee admits it will be a roll of the dice. The best-case scenario would be to transform this into a regular show, perhaps even one that can be put on in other locations.
“What I’m interested in is really making sure the message we tell here is not commercialised. Our stories are for those who really appreciate it,” she emphasises. At its core, Krate’s agenda has always been to support Melaka’s arts scene and offer opportunities for individuals from all walks of life to explore the stage.
“I’m very grateful because, now more than ever, people are becoming open to the idea of being on stage. For our last show, Mawar Putih, Mawar Merah, the two leads were first-timers. These are people with passion, who really love the industry and energy, who are trying their best to make a show work,” she smiles. Having just finished a high school production, she expresses how her troupe who was usually in the limelight were more than happy to help out backstage.
“I haven’t started this process yet but I potentially want to start a persatuan in Melaka for the arts,” adds Wee. “To get sponsorship and grants is much easier if you are in an association. Having members would help cultivate a younger generation of creatives by building a non-profit platform.
“I come from a time where art is something you cannot survive on. I wanted to show that you don’t have to be starving; you can create opportunities for yourself. I would like for guests to just enjoy themselves and open up to the idea that you can also be part of the story. Don’t allow the world to dictate what you can or can’t do.”
'A Chef’s Confession' runs every weekend through July and August at The Garden @ Heeren, 148 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock. For tickets or more information, visit here.
This article first appeared on July 6, 2026 in The Edge Malaysia.
