Agatha Christie’s murder-mystery novel, A Murder Is Announced, was first published in the UK in 1950 - and adapted for the stage, though not by Christie, in 1977. Even though at the time it wasn’t considered to be one of the Queen of Crime’s absolute best, it has nevertheless enthralled fans of detective fiction for the past 70 years with its quaint, enigmatic characters and  ingenious plot.

A Murder Is Announced is the latest in a list of dramas produced by seasoned theatricals Middle Ground Theatre Company (they’ve been treading the boards for 34 years) and is currently touring the UK.

The story is as follows. A murder is announced in a local newspaper in the small English village of Chipping Cleghorn. The murder will take place on Friday 29 October, at 6.30pm, at Little Paddocks - the home of Leticia Blacklock (here played by Barbara Wiltshire).

A group gather at the house at the appointed time. At 6.30 the lights go out and a gun is fired! 
The intrepid - or should that be meddling? - Miss Marple (Sarah Thomas), Agatha Christie’s oft-deployed elderly spinster/amateur sleuth, happens to be staying at a local spa hotel. Her presence in the village means that she’s able to assist lead detective Inspector Craddock (Tom Butcher) in solving the baffling murder-mystery - whether he wants her to or not!

With great acting, lovely costumes and a traditional post-war 1940s set to recommend it, this brand-new version of A Murder Is Announced is well worth an evening of any whodunnit-loving theatre-goer’s time. 
My friend and I particularly enjoyed the character of Mitzi, played by Lydia Piechowiak (who works extensively on London’s contemporary cabaret & circus circuit). Mitzi is a fiery middle European refugee who is hired as a cook at Little Paddocks. Her histrionics and mixed-up English brought great humour to a play which would otherwise have been a doggedly serious affair - as of course the business of murder tends to be!

Whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool Agatha Christie (and Miss Marple) fan or just enjoy a good old-fashioned keep-’em-guessing murder-mystery, this play will not disappoint. Both my friend and I were left guessing ‘whodunnit’ until the very end. 

A fabulous experience and a thoroughly engaging night at the theatre, A Murder Is Announced is playing at Malvern Theatres until Saturday (18 June).

Five stars 

Reviewed by Sue Hull on Tuesday 14 June.