KENREX’s Jack Holden on bringing ‘unbelievable’ unsolved murder to London stage

Jack Holden in KENREX (Image: Manuel Harlan)

On 10 July, 1981, in a small US town in Missouri, Ken Rex McElroy was shot dead in broad daylight. Despite 45 witnesses, no one was ever charged with his murder. After a decade of terrorising the community through theft, intimidation, assault and attempted murder, McElroy’s death marked the end of an era – and the beginning of a mystery that remains unsolved to this day.

This extraordinary true story is now being brought to life at the Southwark Playhouse with KENREX, created by Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian. Following an acclaimed run at Sheffield Theatres that earned five-star reviews, the production blends Western drama with true crime storytelling, featuring live music by John Patrick Elliott.

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