Jump on board the Orient Express at The Alexandra, Birmingham, for a thrill-packed journey to the land of Agatha Christie! The essential elements for a classic murder-mystery are there: a train full of enigmatic passengers from far-flung realms, together with the world’s most famous detective - Hercule Poirot.

For more than 90 years, Christie’s timeless whodunnit has been enchanting readers and audiences alike, and this new staging by Ken Ludwig is destined to do the same.

Hercule Poirot, fresh from solving his latest case, decides to take a break in Istanbul. Of course, in the best tradition of Agatha Christie tales, his plans do not run smoothly, and he soon finds himself on board the Orient Express, that most splendid of trains, heading for Calais.

Poirot’s intention, to enjoy a little relaxation in the lap of luxury, is interrupted by the discovery of a body. A snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The train is going nowhere, the passengers are trapped, and one of them is a murderer. But who? And so the scene is set for an evening of suspense and intrigue...

The performances from the accomplished cast are spot on. Michael Maloney is Poirot, the moustachioed Belgian sleuth, and plays the part with a perfect mix of charm and wisdom. The other passengers turn to him for help, and he does not disappoint. Simon Cotton and Christie Kavanagh are suitably overbearing and brash as American travellers Samuel Ratchett and Helen Hubbard. Minor East-European aristocracy, brimming with self-confidence and certain of their superiority to others, is present in the form of Princess Dragomiroff (Debbie Chazen) and Countess Elena (Mila Carter). Iniki Mariano and Rishi Rian play a slightly repressed couple, Mary Debenham and The Colonel, whose relationship is shrouded in secrecy...

This eclectic mix of characters form an unlikely band of brothers, but each has their vital part to play as the plot unfolds.

This is a delightfully original and creative production of a much-loved classic. At first, the set appears stark and somewhat sombre, but inventive use of imagery and props transports the audience from a restaurant in Istanbul to a snow-covered mountain pass cut off from civilisation. The costumes, meanwhile, evoke the opulence of another age. Plummy accents mingle with foreign inflections, adding to the exotic, faraway mood of the piece, and the story moves apace to the inevitable twist as the secret is revealed.

This truly is a tale that has stood the test of time, and this new production cannot fail to captivate mystery-lovers young and old.

Five stars

Murder On The Orient Express was reviewed by Rachel Smith on Tuesday 28 January at The Alexandra in Birmingham, where it shows until Saturday 1 February.