A British murder mystery classic takes the stage at Theatre Royal Nottingham for it's European premiere...
Death on the Nile is a classic Agatha Christie mystery where detective Hercule Poirot investigates the murder of a wealthy heiress, Linnet Ridgeway, aboard a luxury Nile steamer. During an Egyptian honeymoon, the idyllic trip turns into a hunt for a killer, as a love triangle leads to fatal jealousy.
Following the sell-out tour of Murder on the Orient Express, the European premiere of this thrilling production reunites writer Ken Ludwig and director Lucy Bailey (Witness for the Prosecution) for another take on a British literary classic.
Starring as Poirot is Mark Hadfield (recently seen on TV in Belfast, Outlander, Wallander). The role of Poirot is one many actors have tried ranging from the iconic TV appearances of David Suchet (1989-2013) to the slight more ‘meh’ recent takes by acting giants like Kenneth Branagh (2017-2023) and John Malkovich (2018). I’m pleased to report however, that Hadfield does the role on stage a treat. With his little winks to the crowd and the occasional little walking stick wiggle, he’s smart and endearing in the role throughout.
Hadfield is joined onstage by Glynis Barber (Dempsey and Makepeace and EastEnders) who possibly steals the show. If Wikipedia is correct she turned 70 last year, but she plays the role of Salome Otterbourne a treat and frankly could pass for half her age viewed from the stalls. Bob Barrett (Murder on the Orient Express and Holby City) makes an excellent Colonel Race, the Dr Watson to Poirot’s Sherlock; if you don’t mind mixing your detective metaphors.
The younger member of the cast like Esme Hough (Jacqueline de Bellefort), Nye Occomore (Simon Doyle) and Libby Alexandra-Cooper (Linnet Ridgeway) also all perform excellently among their more experienced counterparts. Overall it’s a tight cast and everyone deserves the rapturous applause at the end.
Special mention must also go to the amazing stage set-up and the eerie musical lighting and soundtrack that pervades the whole production. Many in the house will, like me, go in knowing ‘whodunnit’ beforehand. But there’s much to see and love about this chance to experience this classic British mystery anew at this wonderful Nottingham Theatre.
Death On The Nile is showing at Nottingham's Theatre Royal until Saturday 18 April.
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