Murder on the Orient Express review (The Marlowe Theatre)

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★★★★★

The stage adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ is currently touring the UK and has made a stop in Canterbury this week, exciting murder mystery and drama enthusiasts. As a fan of gritty and chilling theatre, I could not wait for the show to pull into my local venue of the Marlowe Theatre, attending the press night yesterday evening. With direction by Lucy Bailey, the source material has been adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig and this invigorating imagination of one of the author’s most renowned works manages to entice, thrill and offer a slice of dark comedy.

Initial thoughts

The material needs no introduction, with the tale of Agatha Christie’s famous detective Hercule Poirot and the train journey from Istanbul to Paris covering just over 2 hours of theatre including a short interval. The standout is the dynamic cast performances and the imaginative set design, but the anticipation builds from the moment you enter the auditorium and catch sight of the bleak, dark stage which is void of any set pieces.

The weather was particularly dreary last night and this combined with the empty performance space helped to kick start an exhilarating evening of theatre. As a fan of bold and maximalist set design, what pleases me greatly with the staging for ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ is the fact that the blank set is not over utilised. Instead it is used at specific moments to evoke fear and impact. Too often productions choose to take this approach the whole way through, which can get a little tiresome.

Dark and enigmatic atmosphere

From the gripping use of video sequences designed by Ian William Galloway to the innovative placement of the train carriages, the visuals are a highlight of the play. Mike Britton’s set design totally won me over from the minute the revolving platform was used to introduce the different passengers in Istanbul. The formation of train compartments is where the creativity really soars, taking the upmarket 1930s vehicle and showing audiences every dimension of the confined environment, which is pivotal to the story. Oliver Fenwick’s warm, glowing lighting design also adds to the ornate aesthetic of the train, providing visual contrast against the dark, uninviting rear sections of the stage.

If there was one thing to comment on, it would be the slightly slow scene transitions and movement of set pieces in places, which risk disrupting the continuity, but even this goes largely unnoticed when you are swept up in the ambiance.

Bewitching cast performances

It goes without saying that the cast are the heart and soul of this whodunnit. Michael Maloney captures the spirit and wit of Hercule Poirot in his portrayal, leading the cast with such gravitas. Supported by wonderful comedy performances from Christine Kavanagh as Helen Hubbard and Debbie Chazen as Princess Dragomiroff, it is the delivery that makes this murder-mystery so fun to watch, with plenty of devilish charm and charisma in the character portrayals. 

A contender for my favourite play of 2024

A captivating and darkly humorous interpretation of one of Agatha Christie’s most famous stories, I was hooked from start to finish. You can catch the UK tour of ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ in Canterbury until Saturday 5th October, with last minute tickets available via the theatre’s website. I would thoroughly recommend the train-themed play which has been orchestrated exquisitely by Lucy Bailey.

Thanks for reading my blog today.

Love Kat xxxx

*My ticket for ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.