A Murder is Announced (Leslie Darbon adaptation)

A Murder is Announced is a play adapted by Leslie Darbon from the novel with the same name, by Agatha Christie.

1977 production
It was first presented by Peter Saunders at the Theatre Royal, Brighton; and subsequently at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, on 21st September 1977. It was directed by Robert Chetwyn with decor by Anthony Holland. The production closed on September 30th 1978.

1977 cast (in the order of their appearance)

 * Patricia Brake as Julia Simmons
 * Dinah Sheridan as Letitia Blacklock
 * Eleanor Summerfield as Dora Bunner
 * Christopher Scoular as Patrick Simmons
 * Mia Nadasi as Mitzi
 * Dulcie Gray as Miss Marple
 * Barbara Flynn as Phillipa Haymes
 * Nancy Nevinson as Mrs Swettenham
 * Gareth Armstrong as Edmund Swettenham
 * Michael Dyerball as Rudi Scherz
 * James Grout as Inspector Craddock
 * Michael Fleming as Sergeant Mellors

1978 tour
In 1978 a touring production ran from October 2nd until December 9th. The production was directed by Robert Chetwyn.

1978 cast

 * Patricia Kneale as Dora Bunner
 * Richard Lindfield as Edward Swettenham
 * Dermot Walsh as Inspector Craddock
 * Kirsten Cooke as Julia Simmons
 * Barbara Shelley as Letitia Blacklock
 * Dulcie Gray as Miss Marple
 * Elisabeth Scott as Mitzi
 * Jacqueline Lacey as Mrs Swettenham
 * Richard Kettles as Patrick Simmons
 * Val Meredok as Philippa Haymes
 * Tony Parkin as Rudi Scherz/Sgt Mellors

1979 London production
The play opened again at the Vaudeville Theatre on March 15th 1979 and closed on June 9th the same year. This time the director was Charles Hickman.

1979 London cast

 * Ewan Roberts as Inspector Craddock
 * Jean Kent as Letitia Blacklock
 * Joyce Carey as Miss Marple
 * Mia Nadasi as Mitzi
 * Glynis Barber as Julia Simmons
 * June Abbott unknown part
 * Giles Cole unknown part
 * William Dalton unknown part
 * Margaret Gibson unknown part
 * Peter Porteous unknown part
 * Jill Raymond unknown part

1979 Bournemouth production
A production was performed at the Pier Theatre in Bournemouth from May 7th until June 23rd, 1979. It was directed by Robert Chetwyn.

1979 Bournemouth cast

 * Patricia Kneale as Dora Bunner
 * Tony Price-Jones as Edmund Swettenham
 * Dermot Walsh as Inspector Craddock
 * Lynette Bennett as Julia Simmons
 * Margaret Ashcroft as Letitia Blacklock
 * Dora Bryan as Miss Marple
 * Elisabeth Scott as Mitzi
 * Daphne Odin-Pearse as Mrs Swettenham
 * Richard Kettles as Patrick Simmons
 * Susan Majolier as Philippa Haymes
 * Colin Reese as Sgt Mellors

1987 tour
The production was directed by Charles Stapley.

1987 cast

 * Margaret Ashcroft as Letitia Blacklock
 * Dermot Walsh as Inspector Craddock
 * Hazel Bainbridge as Miss Marple
 * Angela Rooks as Dora Bunner
 * Benedikte Faulkner as Mitzi
 * Jacqueline Lacey as Mrs Swettenham
 * Judy Clifton
 * John Elnaugh
 * Kim Fenton
 * Tim Marriott
 * Jacqueline Martin

1990 production
In 1990 a production was performed at the Theatre Royal, Bath.

1990 cast

 * Madeleine Moffatt as Dora
 * Sean Aita as Edmund Swettenham
 * Richard Todd as Inspector Craddock
 * Margaret Ashcroft as Letitia
 * Avril Angers as Miss Marple
 * Jacqueline Lacey as Mrs Swettenham
 * Jonathan Lermit as Patrick
 * Paul Lowther as Rudi Sherz
 * Jo Rideout as Mitzi
 * Marie McCarthy as Philipa

2015/2016 tour production
Middle Ground Theatre Company. Designed and directed by Michael Lunney.

Cast

 * Judy Cornwell as Miss Marple
 * Diane Fletcher as Letitia Blacklock
 * Tom Butcher as Inspector Craddock
 * Sarah Thomas as Dora Bunner
 * Rachel Bright as Julia Simmons
 * Patrick Neyman as Patrick Simmons
 * Alicia Ambrose-Bayly as Phillipa Haymes

2017 tour production
Middle Ground Theatre Company. Designed and directed by Michael Lunney.

Cast

 * Louise Jameson as Miss Marple
 * Janet Dibley as Letitia Blacklock
 * Tom Butcher as Inspector Craddock
 * Jog Maher as Sergeant Mellors
 * Dean Smith as Edmund Swettenham
 * Cara Chase as Mrs Swettenham
 * Lucy Evans as Julia Simmons
 * Will Huntington as Patrick Simmons
 * Sarah Thomas as Dora Bunner
 * Alicia Ambrose-Bayly as Phillipa Haymes
 * Lydia Piechowiak as Mitzi

2019/2020 UK & Ireland tour production
Middle Ground Theatre Company. Designed and directed by Michael Lunney.

Cast

 * Sarah Thomas as Miss Marple
 * Barbara Wilshere as Letitia Blacklock
 * Kazia Pelka as Letitia Blacklock
 * Tom Butcher as Inspector Craddock
 * Karen Drury as Dora Bunner
 * Jenny Funnell as Dora Bunner
 * Lucy Evans as Julia Simmons
 * Tom Gibbons as Edmund Swettenham
 * Lydia Piechowiak as Mitzi
 * Dot Smith as Clara Swettenham
 * Jog Maher as Sergeant Mellors
 * Will Huntington as Patrick Simmons
 * Emma Fernell as Phillipa Haymes
 * Adam Lloyd-James as Rudi Scherz
 * Holly Jackson Walters
 * Catherine Humphrys.