Review: A new lease of life for Agatha Christie's Death On The Nile at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton

For those who have never read or seen any of the many theatre or film versions of the murderous tale, the evening delivers a fascinating array of characters, any of whom could be the killer.

For those who know every twist and turn of the plot, there is still much to enjoy in the performances and the excellent staging and lighting.

Hercule Poirot, played expertly by Mark Hadfield, is vacationing on a luxurious Nile river steamer when the tranquility is shattered by murder.

Linnet Ridgeway, a beautiful and wealthy heiress is on her honeymoon with her new husband, Simon Doyle.

The cruise is fraught with tension: Linnet is being relentlessly stalked by Jacqueline de Bellefort, Simon's scorned ex-fiancée.

Murder seems inevitable - and it comes at the end of the first dramatic act.

The second act sees Poirot - who is Belgian, not French - investigate the passengers, many of whom have motives, including financial and personal grudges.

Eventually, the detective uncovers a labyrinth of deception, jealousy and betrayal.

In true Christie style, Poirot solves the crime and exposes a shocking, complex conspiracy.

Hadfield imbues Poirot with a playful sense of humour, which adds an enjoyable dimension to this timeless and much-performed story.

He is ably supported by Glynis Barber as Salome Otterbourne, Libby Alexandra-Cooper as Linet Ridgeway, Camilla Anvar as Rosalie Otterbourne, Howard Gossington as Atticus Praed, Helen Katamba as Annabelle Pennington, Nye Occomore as Simon Doyle, Nicholas Prasad as Ramses Praed and Terence Wilton as Septimus Troy.

It seems churlish to single out any individuals, but I particularly enjoyed the performances of Esme Hough as lover spurned Jacqueline de Bellefort and Bob Barrett as Poirot’s old friend Colonel Race.

The audience is given a sense of the events being played out under the heat of the Egyptian sun through excellent lighting and performances over two tiers of the Derngate stage.

This is another marvellous way to spend a night out, even if you know whodunit from the start.

Death on the Nile takes to the Derngate stage daily at 7.30pm until Saturday, November 8. There are also matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets can be booked online at www.royalandderngate.co.uk/death-on-the-nile or by calling the Box Office on 01604 624811.

You can also visit the tour website at deathonthenileplay.com