Daily Casefile · Verdict
Velvet Crown at Vantage Rep
≈ 4 min
On the afternoon of 26 July 2026, wardrobe mistress Diane Obbe unlocked the costume vault at 17:45 to prepare for the evening performance of 'The Winter Sovereign' and discovered that the Velvet Crown tiara — the production's centrepiece prop — was missing from its labelled hook. The tiara had been confirmed present after the 14:00 matinée by Obbe herself. Margot Feale, the only other staff member holding a vault key, was seen in the wardrobe corridor during the window in question and has previously expressed interest in owning the piece. The prosecution contends that Feale used her key to enter the vault and took the tiara between 15:30 and 17:45. The jury must decide whether Feale is guilty of theft and identify which witness's account settles the matter.
Subject
Margot Feale, wardrobe assistant at Vantage Repertory Theatre
Charged with Theft of costume jewellery — specifically, removing the 'Velvet Crown' tiara (a rhinestone stage piece valued at £340) from the locked costume vault between the matinée and evening performances on 26 July 2026
The scene
Vantage Repertory Theatre, a regional theater company occupying a converted Edwardian town hall in Harrogate, England, present day — comprising a main stage, a costume vault on the second floor, a green room, and a prop-and-wardrobe corridor linking them.
The witnesses
- Diane Obbe — Wardrobe mistress, Vantage Repertory Theatre
- Priya Sett — Front-of-house volunteer, Vantage Repertory Theatre
- Tomasz Wren — Stage manager, Vantage Repertory Theatre
- Rosalyn Chase — Lead actress, Vantage Repertory Theatre
Play today’s Verdict.
This case first aired on July 31, 2026. A fresh verdict runs every morning — same rules, five minutes, one solution.