A Murder is Announced

A Murder is Announced
By Agatha Christie adapted by Leslie Darbon
Produced by: Portishead Players
Performed at: Somerset Hall
Directed by: Dave Richardson
Seen by Stephen Fudge NODA South West District 7 rep on Thursday 11th December 2026
for Mike Purnell NODA South West District 9

I was excited to cover this production on behalf of Mike and jumped at the opportunity to see
this highly acclaimed play. Before anything else, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to
Lynda and the rest of the Front of House team for such a warm and welcoming reception. No
production can be achieved without a dedicated Front of House crew, and their hospitality to
both Adam and me was exceptional, setting the tone for a thoroughly enjoyable evening at the
theatre.
A Murder is announced is a classic Agatha Christie whodunit, presented here as a play in two
acts with six scenes in total. Set in the quiet English village of Chipping Cleghorn, the story
begins when an announcement appears in the local newspaper stating that a murder will take
place at Little Paddocks at a specific time and date. What initially seems like a macabre joke
quickly turns into something far more serious when the announcement proves all too real.
As neighbours gather out of curiosity, secrets begin to surface, relationships are tested and
suspicion falls in many directions. With multiple twists, red herrings and unexpected
revelations, the play expertly builds tension and intrigue, culminating in a carefully unravelled
mystery that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. It is a finely crafted piece of classic
crime drama, relying on strong characterisation, precise pacing and clear storytelling to deliver
its impact.

The set was impressive and immediately established the period and setting effectively, with
furniture choices that felt entirely appropriate and well considered. I did, however, find myself
wanting to reach for a paintbrush to give the two doors an extra coat of paint, as they appeared
slightly tired against an otherwise strong visual backdrop. The positioning of the sofa and chairs
stage right also felt a little awkward, and when several characters were seated together this led
to some minor masking. A small adjustment to the angle would likely have resolved this without
impacting the overall layout.
I felt that the majority of scene changes were too long, which allowed the audience’s focus to
drift into general chatter rather than maintaining anticipation for the next scene. This was
particularly noticeable given that, aside from the occasional costume change, the set itself
remained unchanged when the curtain reopened. Tighter transitions here would have helped to
sustain momentum and dramatic tension.
In moments of heightened drama, particularly surrounding the on-stage deaths, I felt there was
an opportunity for stronger reaction from those involved. These are pivotal moments within the

narrative, and leaning further into the shock and gravity of these events would have significantly enhanced their impact.

Costumes throughout were excellent and clearly defined the period and characters well. I would
have liked to se the men benefit from the occasional costume change, especially as this stood
in contrast to the women, who enjoyed several changes across the production. Finally, I was
impressed with the overall quality of acting on stage, which provided a strong foundation for this
classic and much-loved piece.
Regardless of the observations I have made, I thoroughly enjoyed this production, and it was a
great piece of theatre, delivered with complete commitment from all involved both on and off
stage

.
Julia Simmons
You maintained a real sense of poise throughout the entire production, and your commitment to
the character never wavered. Even in scenes where you had minimal dialogue, you remained
fully engaged and present, never breaking character for a moment. This consistency added
greatly to the credibility of the world on stage. Great job.

Letitia Blacklock
You were very much the backbone of this production and commanded the stage each and every
time you appeared. It was clear that you are a true Agatha Christie enthusiast, and that passion
shone through in the care and detail you brought to the role. Your commitment was evident
throughout, and your experience as an actress was unmistakable, resulting in an incredible and
assured performance.

Dora Bunner
You provided a much-needed contrast within this production, bringing a welcome sense of
comedy to the play that helped to balance the darker elements of the story. There were one or
two moments where diction was slightly lost and if felt as though you were briefly searching for
the next line; however, these moments did little to detract from the warmth you brought to the
role. You were very much the heart of the play, delivering Dora’s innocent charm with sincerity
and affection.

Patrick Simmons
You were gripping and engaging every time you appeared on stage, immediately capturing the
audience’s attention. You gave off wonderfully convincing “middle-class weasel” vibes, which
fitted the character perfectly and added an extra layer of intrigue and unease to your portrayal. I
must say the wig was a little distracting at times, but this aside you delivered a fantastic
character with confidence and commitment throughout.

Mitzi
This is a wonderful character role to take on, and you clearly relished the opportunity to explore
her volatility and intensity, which you handled well throughout. There were a few moments
towards the end where the portrayal leaned slightly towards caricature, and a little restraint
there would have helped maintain the realism of the character.

I must commend you for taking on the challenge of a Hungarian accent – no small task – and
overall, you did a sterling job. While it occasionally slipped into something closer to Welsh, your
commitment and confidence in sustaining the accent were clear, and this added to a bold and
engaging performance.

Miss Marple
What an iconic role to take on, and you claimed her instantly – there was never any doubt about
who you were on stage; you simply were Miss Marple. It was clear that you had studied the role
and carefully composed yourself with complete control throughout the entire play. The subtle
hand gestures, facial expressions and quiet observations were all beautifully judged. A superb
performance – well done.

Phillipa Haymes
You maintained a strong and consistent character throughout the production. It can be easy to
drift in moments without dialogue, but there was never any risk of that here; you always
remained fully engaged and present. You delivered a great supporting role, contributing
effectively to the overall strength and cohesion of the cast.

Mrs Swettenham
You delivered a strong supporting performance and captured the essence of the opinionated,
self-assured and distinctly snobbish village woman very well. Your characterisation was clear,
and you contributed effectively to the social fabric of the village that is so important to this play.

Edmund Swettenham
You immediately gave off a sense of menace, and those sinister undertones were well
established and used as a strong foundation for your performance. You maintained a composed
sense of poise throughout, portraying the character convincingly as a spoiled son inflated by his
own sense of self-importance. This was a clear and effective characterisation – good job.

Inspector Craddock
You really nailed this performance, delivering a composed, controlled and confident presence
throughout. There were moments where I felt the hat could have been lost, as it occasionally
became more of a prop than a character choice and didn’t always serve the scene as effectively
as it might have. That said, your chemistry with Miss Marple was believable and authentic, and
your delivery of the role was strong and assured. A really good performance.

Sergeant Mellors & Rudi Scherz
You both delivered strong supporting performances in your respective roles as the Sergeant and
Rudi – the first victim of the evening. Cameo roles may be brief in stage time, but they can have
a significant impact on the overall storytelling, and you both rose to that challenge well. Your
contributions were effective, well judged and added value to the production, so well done to you
both.

Director
This production of A Murder in Announced was clearly approached with a strong understanding
of the material and a respect for Agatha Christie’s world. The overall vision was coherent and
well realised, supported by an impressive standard of acting across the cast and a clear
commitment to period, style and storytelling. The play was delivered with confidence, and the
consistency of character work throughout the company reflected a well-guided and disciplined
rehearsal process.
There were moments where tighter pacing, particularly around scene changes, would have
helped to sustain tension and keep momentum building between scenes. Similarly, moments of
high drama – most notably the on-stage deaths – could have been leaned into more boldly to
maximise their impact. These are, however, refinements rather than fundamental issues, and
they sit alongside much that worked very well.
Overall, this was a strong and enjoyable piece of theatre, delivered with clear commitment from
all involved. The direction supported a high standard of performance. Strong ensemble work
and a genuine engagement from the audience throughout. This was a well-crafted production
that demonstrated both confidence and care in its execution.

To close – this was a great piece of theatre and an enjoyable evening. I would like to offer
particular congratulations to the often-under-mentioned props team – not one prop looked out
of place or incorrect, and this level of attention to detail truly makes all the difference in a
production of this style.
My thanks again to Lynda and the Front of House team for their warmth and hospitality, and to
the cast, crew and creatives for bringing this classic play to the stage with such care and
dedication. It was a pleasure to attend, and I look forward to seeing the company’s future work.
Best wishes,
Stephen Fudge

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