Agatha Christie's The Rose and the Yew Tree

Agatha Christie's The Rose and the Yew Tree is a is a 2020 BBC Radio 4 adaptation of the Mary Westmacott novel The Rose and the Yew Tree. It was first broadcast on 1 September 2020. The adaptation is a Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4, adapted by Malcolm McKay and directed by Catherine Bailey. Leon Chambers was the sound designer.

Summary
The Rose and the Yew Tree is set in a Cornish seaside town, during the election of 1945 when it was assumed Churchill would be re-elected as Prime Minister. It’s the story of an enigmatic young woman, Isabella, who everyone expects will marry her cousin Rupert, the returning war hero. But she becomes seemingly intrigued by the working class opportunistic parliamentary candidate, John Gabriel.

Agatha Christie flouts all the known rules of love and class only to then reveal the tragic results of such behaviour. The play explores the true meaning of their love as it exists on its own unmatchable and uncompromising terms.

Cast

 * Richard McCabe as Hugh Norreys
 * Selina Cadell as Teresa Norreys & Milly Burt
 * Jonathan Cullen as Colonel Carslake
 * Avril Clark as Lady St. Loo
 * Toby Jones as John Gabriel
 * Ioanna Kimbook as Isabella Charteris
 * Stephen Critchlow as Rupert St. Loo & James Burt