It was a full house on Sunday, 3 August at Her Majesty’s Theatre for the opening night of And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie’s most chilling whodunnit, and the best-selling crime novel of all time, with over 100 million copies sold. Now adapted for the stage by acclaimed director Robyn Nevin (The Mousetrap), this suspense-filled classic has been given a fresh and theatrical spin.

Ten strangers are summoned to a remote, storm-lashed island off the coast of Devon under mysterious circumstances. The hosts are nowhere to be found. As secrets unravel and the body count rises, paranoia sets in. No one can be trusted. No one is safe.

The cast is stellar, with each actor finding the balance and delivering a performance that delves between comedic and captivating. Anthony Phelan brings gravitas as the judge; Nicholas Hammond’s General is fraught with guilt and reflection; Mia Morrissey is magnetic as the sharp but troubled secretary. Peter O’Brien as the inspector and Jennifer Flowers as the steely religious zealot both offer strong, unsettling turns, while Eden Falk, Tom Stokes, Jack Bannister, Grant Piro and Christen O’Leary each round out the ensemble with nuance and intensity.

The set, by Dale Ferguson, is clever, and the interactions between the weather outdoors and the delivery of emotions are inexplicably linked.

What’s surprising is the comedic tone Nevin has brought to the production. Moments of levity and irony lighten the mood, a stark contrast to the psychological tension typical of other adaptations. While this fresh angle may appeal to new audiences, it slightly softens the edge of what is traditionally a taut, gripping thriller. At times, the suspense takes a backseat to style.

Still, the production is visually simplistic, impeccably paced, and delivered with skill. For die-hard Christie fans, this is a must-see, a bold reimagining of a classic tale that continues to intrigue and entertain.

🗓️ 3 – 16 August
📍 Her Majesty’s Theatre
🎫 Ticket link here

Photo credits: Jeff Busby