Murder on the Orient Express, UK Tour Review

Reviewed by Hollie for Theatre and Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review

Content Warnings: This performance contains themes of death, grief and guilt. There’s also reference and depictions of murder, manslaughter and weapons.

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Agatha Christie’s most famous detective story Murder on the Orient Express arrives at Curve this week as part of its long anticipated UK tour. 

The Orient Express isn’t just a mere train, it’s a legend, and this stage adaptation opens on the train platform where the eight mysterious characters are introduced to the audience. The impressive train sets off from Istanbul to Calais on its regular journey and the scene is set with the addition of the train carriages and the fabulously imaginative scenery created by designer Mike Britton and his team. 

The journey begins, the train departs and audience members are able to see the events of the fateful evening play out, as the mixture of eclectic first class passengers including a princess, a countess, a governess and detective Hercule Poirot himself, enjoy their evening on the train. 

This classic story of tragedy and deception as always, proves to be very popular with its numerous TV and film adaptations as well as the relatively sold out theatre auditorium in Leicester this week. 

The use of the different train carriages and the cleverly integrated rotating stage allow you as the audience member to gather clues and developments in the plot from the varying character’s perspectives and viewpoints. 

There were many fans of both Christie and the protagonist Hercule Poirot, with many audience members dressed as characters from the show. Other audience members were happily taking selfies with the characters and sharing laughs and discussions during the interval. 

The humour used was slightly disappointing and felt more suited towards an American audience. I understand though that with all of Christie’s stories there are hardcore fans as well as audience members that have never seen an adaptation of her novel before. 

A murder takes place and audience members find themselves second guessing the clues and trying to find out which passengers have a potential motive for the brutal killing. Hercule Poirot, played by Michael Maloney, steps into action and begins to question everyone else on the train. 

The cast has been chosen well and their costumes designed and created by Sarah Holland are superb. They represent the characters and the time well as you try to figure out who is lying and who is telling the truth. 

Through the use of his detective skills and the analysis of weapons, passports and carefully placed objects, can Poirot pinpoint who the murderer is before the police arrive? 

Michael’s monologue as Hercule Poirot is fantastic and very well told as he explains and reveals the hidden secrets towards the end. 

If you are ready to hop aboard you can catch the train at Leicester’s Curve until Saturday 19th October before it continues to tour around the UK at theatres including Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre, Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre and Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre. 

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆