Witness for the Prosecution ★★★★★ London County Hall | Until September 25, 2022


Enter Agatha Christie's world of devotion and deceit, murder and mystery, in the grandeur and majesty of London County Hall. The setting is the perfect venue for the ultimate courtroom drama. Sitting at the old council desks and faced with the judge's imposing dais, the audience absorbs all the awe and terror induced by proceedings at the Old Bailey before the play even begins. This is arguably Christie's most accomplished drama with enough twists and turns to induce vertigo in the most hardened amateur sleuth. In this production it gets a flawless presentation and all of the cast do a fine job no matter how small the part. Particularly strong was Jonathan Firth as defence counsel, Sir Wilfrid Robarts, Q.C. He got the confidence and competitive nature of his character across and beautifully set up himself and the audience for a comeuppance. Joe McNamara created a wonderfully vulnerable and naïve Leonard Vole, while Emer McDaid was suitably unsympathetic as his wife, Romaine. Kudos also to Yvonne Gidden, Teddy Kempner and Miles Richardson. All in all, this is a thoroughly entertaining theatrical experience in a bijou setting. It deserves to run as long as that other famous Agatha Christie play that's been in the West End since the 1950's.

Rated: ★★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Ellie Kurttz.

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When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: County Hall, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 7GP, UK

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