Jason Durr chats about Black Coffee

How does your take on Poirot differ to ones audiences may have seen before?

Poirot is an iconic character much loved by audiences around the world. Both he and the stories he inhabits need to be kept alive and my job is to stay true to Agatha Christie's writing while at the same time bringing to life a character that is both relevant and accessible to a new and younger audience. Whatever you think you know about Poitor, I'm here to challenge those preconceptions and give you more than you bargained for.

Why do you think audiences still enjoy Agatha Christie stories?

A great thriller is always wonderful to watch and Agatha is the 'Grand Dame' of the genre. Audiences all over the world have taken her and the characters she created, very much to their hearts. Everyone loves a 'who' dunnit.

What are the challenges in playing such a well-known character?

It's an honour to play such a well-loved and iconic character. I'm always up for a challenge and this is no exception. It's a real joy to don the moustache and affect the Belgian accent. It's been a lot of fun.

What do you like about performing on stage?

The wonderful thing about performing on stage is you get a chance to hone your performance and to watch it grow and develop over time. It's great to watch how changing an inflection or stress on a line, will elicit a different reaction from an audience. There's nothing quite like it, the smell of the grease paint, the roar of the crowd!

Why should audiences see Black Coffee?

It's the first time in 40 years that it's been done and the only play Christie wrote with Poirot in it. It's a gripping and funny evening’s entertainment. If you like Poirot, you'll love this. Come and get your little grey cells working.

Black Coffee is currently on tour and visits the Manchester Opera House from 17 – 22 November. For further tour dates, click here.