Sixth Former's adaptation of Agatha Christie classic full of 'suspense and surprise'

Agatha Christie – the best-selling fiction writer of all time – knew how to construct a plot.

She was the mistress of the carefully laid clue, the red herring, the even redder herring, and the unexpected murderous twist. And Then There Were None is one of her most famous and most complicated mysteries. Ten strangers find themselves marooned on an island off the coast of Devon. One by one, they fall prey to an unknown murderer, who arranges each death to echo a line of the well-known nursery rhyme. 

Poppy G’s (MSH, LVI) brilliant adaptation had all the suspense and surprise of the original, eliciting audible gasps from its audience as the story unfolded.

Laurie M (Rb, UVI), a veteran of the Ashton stage, is terrific as the dashing but possibly unhinged Captain Lombard. This is a stock Christie character: the charming rake with a shady past, a good chat-up line and a revolver in his pocket. Laurie gets the style precisely right, his accent and delivery spot on and his sense of total investment in the character and situation impeccably judged. The object of his attentions is Vera Claythorne, the beautiful young secretary. Kate W (M) – also a dramatic stalwart of the Upper Sixth – gives a brilliantly nuanced performance, forcing the audience to question whether she is a heartless femme fatale or frightened ingenue.

Clara G (G, V) plays the prime suspect, a doctor with a shocking case of nerves and a dark history of alcoholism. She is the most obvious choice as murderer, and Clara finds clever ways to underline this while, at the same time, leaving open the real possibility that she is just another frightened victim.

This being Agatha Christie, there is a smorgasbord of eccentric supporting characters. Gravitas comes from an impressively mature performance from Will O’H (Ch, IV) as Sir Lawrence Wargrave, a judge familiar with death sentences. Hattie A (G, LVI) is suitably purse-lipped and judgemental as the sanctimonious Miss Brent. Henry C (R, LVI) brings an endearing vulnerability to the gruff bluster of General Mackenzie, lamenting his departed wife. No murder mystery is complete without a policeman, and Massimo W (PH, LVI) is excellent as retired C.I.D man, William Blore. Tom D’s (PH, LVI) spoilt petrolhead and Isla B (M, V) and Poppy G’s put-upon maids provide the comic relief.

The play’s tension was highlighted by Sam L’s (R, LVI) lighting design, which became increasingly chilly and menacing as the murderer grew closer. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a beautiful 1930s-inspired set, built by our resident technicians Bradley Fenton and Stuart Myles. Those of you who saw A Midsummer Night’s Dream last week may have suspected that the transformation from one outstanding set to another was the result of fairy intervention; there has definitely been magic at work.

The EPQ qualification offers an amazing opportunity for students to produce their own independent work, and I am hugely proud of the self-motivation and hard work of the cast and crew, under the talented direction of Poppy G. Huge congratulations to all involved.

Dr Helen Brown

Deputy Head (Co-curricular) and Director of Drama