Death on the Nile
The plot is simple, a honeymoon cruise down the River Nile turns deadly when our leading lady is shot and pretty much everyone on board has a motive for her murder. Enter the legendary Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, who must solve this murder mystery of jealousy, betrayal and deception.
The first act is elegant, setting the scene for relationships and secrets, with the second act really bringing out the tension with a satisfying reveal.
As a massive Agatha Christie fan, I was so keen to see how they would bring to life this book to stage.
I must say I was thoroughly impressed with the staging of the show; Mark Britton's stunning and clever set was really something impressive, he used the space well to really work the full stage.
As we start off on a simple street to a British museum and then to the shimmering deck of a cruise ship, it was effortless and well put together, the décor was just stunning and very fitting, I really felt like they were on a ship.
While I loved the staging of this production, I found the acting unconvincing, however I did enjoy how humorous this production was, considering it’s a murder mystery.
There were a few issues with Mark Hadfield's portrayal of Hercule Poirot in my opinion. He is meant to be this brilliant, analytical, perfectionist and slightly egotistical man, however the character was dull and unfortunately a few lines of dialogue were forgotten on the evening. The words felt very rushed, which was a real shame, however, I did enjoy a few of his punch lines.
Libby Alexandra-Cooper who plays Linet Ridgeway was effortlessly beautiful and dramatic and suited this stunning era. Most of my laughs came from Bob Barrett who plays Colonel Race, his quick witty lines and one liners hit the spot well with great affect.
Esme Hough who plays Jacqueline De Bellefort delivers her performance exceptionally well and puts on a performance of a lifetime, a woman scorned who brings out the worst in people and she certainly showed us that trait. I felt like the whole cast worked really well together and bounced off each other.
Was this my favourite adaption of one of Agatha Christie's novel? No, however, I wouldn’t discourage anyone going to see this production, as I felt this was worth seeing. It's perfect for any Agatha Christie fan and lively enough for anyone who isn’t familiar with the story.
This maybe a cruise ship worth boarding…
This show was reviewed on the 8th October 2025 at Richmond Theatre where it runs until the 11th October 2025. Tickets available here: Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile Tickets | Richmond Theatre in Richmond | ATG Tickets
Review written by Sarah Vazquez-Phillips
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Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
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