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.[1] The production closed on September 30th 1978.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
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 Phillipa
2013 Australian tour[]
Poster for the 2013 Australian tour starring Judi Farr
Australian tour, directed by Darren Yap. The play was produced by Michael Coppel, Louise Withers and Linda Bewick.
Cast[]
- Judi Farr as Miss Marple
- Debrah Lawrence as Letitia Blacklock
- Robert Grubb as Inspector Craddock
- Victoria Haralabidou as Mitzi
- Carmen Duncan as Mrs Swettenham
- Deirdre Rubenstein as Dora Bunner
- Elizabeth Nabben as Julia Simmons
- Nathaniel Middleton as Patrick Simmons
- James Beck as Edmund Swettenham
- Libby Munro as Phillipa Haymes
2015/2016 tour production[]
Middle Ground Theatre Company. Designed and directed by Michael Lunney.
2015/2016 production.
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.
2017 production.
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.
2019/2020 production.
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.
References[]
- ↑ https://www.vaudevilletheatre.org.uk/showinfo/murderannounced.html
- ↑ https://theatricalia.com/play/5fk/a-murder-is-announced/production/znf
- ↑ https://theatricalia.com/play/5fk/a-murder-is-announced/production/124b
- ↑ https://theatricalia.com/play/5fk/a-murder-is-announced/production/t0m
- ↑ https://theatricalia.com/play/5fk/a-murder-is-announced/production/124c
- ↑ https://theatricalia.com/play/5fk/a-murder-is-announced/production/c01