A MUrder is announced
by Agatha Christie
adapted for the stage by Leslie Darbon
Audition information
DirectED BY
Debbie Lane
Assistant Director
Eli Jones
Audition DATE
Sunday 06 September 2026; 19:00 at Free Church Hall, Northway, NW11 6PB .
Performances
Thursday 26th November at 7.30pm
Friday 27th November at 7.30pm
Saturday 28th November at 7.30pm
Sunday 29th November at 3pm
Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate N6 4BD
The Play
A Murder is Announced is a dramatisation ofAgatha Christie’s novel of the same name. Set in the living-room of Miss Blacklock’s house in Chipping Cleghorn in the early 1950s, it follows on from an announcement in the local paper of a murder that will happen the same evening in that very house… The plot is satisfyingly twisty and turny and there is an ensemble of interesting characters, not least among them Miss Marple herself.
The Audition
If you can’t make the audition on Sunday 6th September, please email us at amurderisannounced@gardensuburbtheatre.org.uk and we will attempt to arrange an alternative opportunity, although it may be via Zoom.
Audition pieces will be available here soon.
It may be possible to borrow a copy of the play to read. Please email the address above to enquire.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will take place on two weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons at the Free Church Hall and in the Free Church itself, starting the week beginning 28 September.
show week will look like this
Sunday – final rehearsal and beginning of get-in
Monday daytime - get-in (cast only attend if feasible)
Monday evening - technical rehearsal
Tuesday evening - dress run
Wednesday evening - dress run
Thursday evening - first performance
Friday evening - second performance
Saturday evening - third performance
Sunday matinee - fourth performance and then set strike.
the Small Print
You do not have to be a member to audition, but if you are cast you will need to join in order to perform. Further information about membership can be found here.
Before auditioning, please ensure you are available for the whole of the show week as described above.
All cast and crew should be willing to support the success of the show in other ways, including helping to build/paint the set and/or with marketing and publicity etc.
CHARACTERS
We’re not specifying ages, just whether the character should be of an older or younger generation or whether they could be within a wider age range.
Older generation
Miss Blacklock - owner of the house in which the action takes place
Dora Bunner (Bunny) – childhood friend of Miss Blacklock
Mrs Swettenham – widow, a resident of Chipping Cleghorn
Miss Marple – staying in Chipping Cleghorn with her nephew
Inspector Craddock – police detective
Younger generation
Julia Simmons – Miss Blacklock’s cousin
Patrick Simmons – Julia’s brother
Phillipa Haymes – Miss Blacklock’s lodger
Edmund Swettenham – Mrs Swettenham’s son
Wider age range
Mitzi – Miss Blacklock’s cook, a refugee from Europe
Sergeant Mellors – the Inspector’s sidekick (small role)
Rudi Scherz – local hotel worker, Swiss (very small but vital role)
If you would like to audition it would be very helpful if you would register your interest below.
Register here
QUESTIONS, COmments or queries
Please feel free to email us with any questions and one of my fabulous team will get back to you