Wigan, 1894. The Richard Throstle Magic Lantern Company proudly presents its ghoulishly popular magic lantern show, Phantasmagoria. Meanwhile, across town a touring theatre company – the Morgan-Drew Players – plods the provinces in the celebrated melodrama The Silver King. The good folk of Wigan are inundated with entertainment opportunities, which they sorely need following a recent strike which has left the town half-starved. But when Richard Throstle is found murdered in his hotel room – his wife Georgina sound asleep beside him – and a cast member of The Silver King is offed onstage during a performance, the local police in the form of Sergeant Slevin take charge of an investigation which will see the curtain go up on sordid predilections and shameful secrets.