Miss Marple is brought to life for the first time on this York stage – can you solve the case before the final curtain?
Agatha Christie’s classic mystery A Murder Is Announced brings murder, secrets and suspense to York’s Joseph Rowntree Theatre for its latest fundraising production, fromWednesday 4 to Saturday 7 November.
When the curious residents of Chipping Cleghorn gather at Little Paddocks, the home of the formidable Letitia Blacklock, they expect an unusual social event. Instead, at exactly the announced time, the lights go out and gunshots ring out.
What follows is a classic Christie mystery filled with hidden identities, tangled relationships and more than one person with something to hide. Fortunately, Miss Marple is on hand to apply her unrivalled powers of observation and sharp intellect to the mystery.
With its ingenious plot, sharp characterisation and trademark twists and turns, A Murder Is Announced is one of Agatha Christie’s most enduring mysteries. Audiences are invited to put their detective skills to the test and see if they can solve the case before the final revelation.
A Murder is Announced is directed by York-based director and performer Alex Schofield.
“A Murder is Announced is my favourite Miss Marple story and in my top three of all Agatha Christie’s works, so it’s a real pleasure to have been given the opportunity to bring this play to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre,” said Alex.
“It’s the first time Miss Marple has appeared on the Joseph Rowntree Theatre stage, and this shows her at her very best.
“It’s a brilliantly constructed mystery, which keeps you guessing until the very end, and gives you plenty to talk about long after you’ve left the theatre.”
A Murder Is Announced is an in-house production by the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, created as part of the theatre’s ongoing fundraising programme.
Dan Shrimpton, chair of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre Trustees, said: “By coming to see the show, audiences are not only enjoying an evening of live theatre – they are helping to fund the ongoing development of a much-loved independent community venue, helping to ensure that it remains a place where local people can perform, volunteer and enjoy live entertainment for years to come.”
Whether you are a lifelong Christie fan or discovering this classic for the first time, expect an evening of suspense, intrigue and plenty of red herrings.