Star casting for Agatha Christie's A Murder Is Announced

The all-Australian cast of Agatha Christie's A Murder is Announced is now complete, and producer Louise Withers (on behalf of the producing partners) confirmed the Australian premiere ensemble cast this week.

Judi Farr is Australia's Miss Marple
Judi Farr is Australia's Miss Marple

Previously announced Judi Farr will star as Australia's Miss Marple and she will be joined by a mix of seasoned veterans and stars on the rise, bringing two generations of Australian performers to the stage in this well loved murder mystery.

James Beck (City Homicide, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Neighbours) will join the cast as Edmund Swettenham, as Mrs Swettenham, Carmen Duncan (After The Fall, Another World, Winners and Losers), Robert Grubb (Yes, Prime Minister, MAMMA MIA!, We Will Rock You, The Flying Doctors) as Inspector Craddock, Victoria Haralabidou (Stuff Happens, Thirst, Brides) as Mitzi and Jamie Kristian (Underbelly: Razor, The Bill, The Crucible) as Sergeant Mellors/Rudi Scherz.

The lady of Little Paddocks, matriarch Letitia Blacklock will be played by Debra Lawrance (Home and Away, Evil Angels, The Memory of Water) with Nathaniel Middleton (Bell Shakespeare) as Patrick Simmons, Libby Munro (Venus in Fur, The Bind, All Saints) as Phillipa Haymes, Elizabeth Nabben (Winners and Losers) as Julia Simmons. Capping off this wonderful cast will be Deidre Rubenstein (Palace of Dreams, Night Letters, Josh Jarman) as Dora “Bunny” Bunner.

A Murder is Announced was the fourth of twelve Agatha Christie novels to feature the famous detective spinster Miss Marple – a character portrayed by Angela Lansbury, Joan Hickson, Julia McKenzie and Gracie Fields and many more over the years – and producer Louise Withers is sure Australian audiences will enjoy the stage adaption of this famous 'whodunit' story.

“Our 2012 60th Anniversary tour of The Mousetrap was a labour of love, embraced by theatregoers and Christie fans alike and we’re sure A Murder Is Announced will be just as satisfying and that audiences will embrace the show in the same way”, she said.

With a company comprised of veterans and luminaries from the Australian acting fraternity as well as young actors with bright futures, we look forward to two generations of Australian actors coming together in what is sure to be a stimulating rehearsal process as the team bring Christie’s brilliant storytelling to the stage.”

The 2013 Australian Tour of Agatha Christie’s A Murder is Announced will open at The Sydney Theatre on September 27. The production will then transfer to The Comedy Theatre, Melbourne for an October 30 opening. Brisbane audiences will have the chance to see the show after Christmas with performances commencing December 27.

No seasons in Perth, Canberra or Adelaide have been confirmed at this stage.

In an English village, turn over a stone and have no idea what will crawl out. The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn, including Miss Marple, are agog with curiosity over an advertisement in the local gazette which reads: ‘A murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30p.m.’

Is it a childish practical joke? Or a hoax intended to scare somebody? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, a crowd begins to gather at Little Paddocks at the appointed time when, without warning, the lights go out, a gun is fired and a body falls. It’s clear that this is no game, but with Miss Marple on-hand, one of Christie’s best-loved mysteries is sure to be solved. 

SYDNEY

The Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay
September 27 – October 27

$75 – $120
Tel: 02 9250 1999 or 1300 723 038

W: sydneytheatre.org.au

MELBOURNE

The Comedy Theatre
October 30 – December 4

$75 – $120
Tel: 1300 111 011

W: ticketmaster.com.au

BRISBANE

The Playhouse Theatre, QPAC
December 27 – January 19

Tickets on sale in August

www.amurderisannounced.com.au

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Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

Erin James