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★★★★
‘Death on the Nile’ is the latest Agatha Christie show touring the UK and Ireland, following on from the success of ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ in 2024/2025. This production sees director Lucy Bailey, writer Ken Ludwig and other members of the creative team reunite, presenting another of the author’s murder mysteries. This week the play is at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury for a series of performances and I had the opportunity to watch the classic whodunnit on press night. Whilst it is a slow burner at first, the material really gains momentum in act two and ends with an engaging reveal, when Hercule Poirot’s case comes to a close.
About the adaptation
Ken Ludwig has adapted the 1930s novel for the stage, retaining the premise of the original story, with a group of wealthy characters stepping aboard the S.S. Karnak for an ill-fated luxury Nile cruise. Except this time the boat is also transporting a sarcophagus home to Egypt, after a tenure at the British Museum. The audience is introduced to most of the characters at a museum reception in London before the trip, where wealthy heiress Linnet Ridgeway (Libby Alexandra-Cooper) is reunited with longtime friend Jacqueline de Bellefort (Esme Hough) and her fiancé Simon Doyle (Nye Occomore). A few weeks later the passengers embark on the voyage and the trip quickly becomes an adventure like no other.
Stronger in the second act
It certainly feels like a story of two halves, with the first act dedicated to introducing the characters, their connections and reasoning for joining the cruise. The amount of focus on the characters and relationships certainly builds a picture of what is to come, but the actual murder mystery elements are heavily weighted to the end of act one and the second act. At times you are left wondering when the focus will shift to murder, which arguably leaves some confusion at the interval. The second act goes from strength to strength however, with the drama unfolding and Mark Hadfield adding so much wit to the story through Poirot’s dialogue.
Set and lighting design
With both ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and now ‘Death on the Nile’, it is Mike Britton’s set and Oliver Fenwick’s lighting design which really draws audiences into the mystery of the narrative. The combination is deeply atmospheric, utilising shadows and obscuring figures in order to highlight what can happen behind closed doors. The set is also incredibly versatile, alternating between the boat decks, cabins and communal areas, showcasing many areas of the luxury steamer. Sometimes sections of the staging are completely in darkness, in order to focus the audience’s attention on a specific area of the set. At times it can feel like the performance space is not being fully utilised in these moments, but the darkness does contribute to building an enigmatic atmosphere.
Another exciting Agatha Christie adaptation
Overall, this is a thoroughly enjoyable whodunnit, which really captures the glamour and mystery of life aboard the vessel. The cast brings so much energy and charisma to this memorable group of characters, making it very much an ensemble piece. Hopefully this isn’t the last time that this creative team collaborates, as they really know how to bring to life Agatha Christie’s timeless stories. ‘Death on the Nile’ is at the Marlowe until Saturday 24th January, with last minute tickets available via the theatre’s website.
*My ticket for ‘Death on the Nile’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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