Theatre News

Emmerdale star leads Verdict in May

Bill Kenwright by special arrangement with the Agatha Christie Theatre Company arrives with its touring production Verdict to the Floral Pavilion in May.

Susan Penhaligon, famed for television roles in Upstairs Downstairs, A Bouquet of Barbed Wire, and Emmerdale as Jean Hope, will play Lisa Koletzky.

She is joined by Robert Duncan who played Gus Hedges in the multi award-winning comedy Drop the Dead Donkey. The cast also includes Peter Byrne (Dixon of Dock Green), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter film series), Elizabeth Power (EastEnders) and 1960’s pop idol Mark Wynter.

Written and first performed in 1958, Verdict is one of Christie’s few original plays which is not based on a novel or short story. It premiered in the West End in May 1958, and ran for 250 performances, before later going on to open in New York and Luxembourg.

Having been forced to flee persecution in his home country, Professor Karl Hendryk leads a content and morally upstanding life, but his world is turned upside-down when the prospect of life-saving treatment for his invalid wife persuades him to take on a new pupil against his better judgement; the spoilt, conniving minx Helen who will stop at nothing to get her way. With murderous intentions afoot, it only remains to be seen what verdict will be delivered, and if justice will prevail.

Directed by Joe Harmston, the tour will appear at the Floral Pavilion 23-28 May.