The show truly begins as you enter the building. Walking into the London County Hall, you are immediately transported back in time to the early 1900s as you are immersed in the courtroom surrounded by judges and clerks. Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution - first published in 1925- has been playing at the County Hall for the last five years, but the show has not fatigued in the slightest.
Originally written as a sketch, the play is your typical murder mystery with the formalities of taking place in an old courtroom with a ‘jury’ of audience members. Young Vole (Joe Mcnamara) has been accused of murdering an older lady, Emily French, he claimed to take a fondness of. Although seemingly charming and innocent, the odds are stacked against him as we discover he has the incentive to take on her fortune and his leather-clad German wife, Romaine (Emer Mcdaid) denies his alibi. The case seems overwhelming against him, and the plot thickens as the play goes on
Directed by Lucy Bailey, the space lends itself to be used in many ways, with entrance points all around the theatre. The transitions are slick and the set (designed by William Dudley) is simple but effective. The cast kept the pace quick and easy to follow, with twists and turns to deceive us throughout. There was a minor contrast between the serious acting of Jonathan Firth as Defence Barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts and the more caricatured female characters, although every performance was strong and kept the audience gripped from start to finish.
This production is exactly what I hoped it would be: nostalgic and entertaining. Certainly worth a watch!
Review by Hannah Storey
Rating: ★★★★★
Seat: E134 | Price of Ticket: £62.50
