Agatha Christie’s only play takes the stage in Kenilworth

Captain Hastings (John Nichols), Hercule Poirot (Andrew Bayliss) and Inspector Japp (Mick Ives) in Black Coffee at the Talisman Theatre. Picture by Peter Weston.

Black Coffee concerns a physicist named Sir Claude Amory (Nigel Sharp), who has come up with a formula for an atom bomb. There is a murder by poison (in coffee, of course) - and it’s up to Christie’s famous character Hercule Poirot (played by Andrew Bayliss) to solve the case. The play, first staged in 1930, was written as a riposte after Christie had become fed up with cinema and critical treatment of her previous work. It remains her only work destined for theatre specifically.

The play’s director Chris Ward has shown a passion for directing mysteries, including twp previous Christie productions, and the set will be the 100th designed by John Ellam on the Talisman stage. Chris Ward said: “Agatha Christie mysteries have entertained audiences since 1920 and show no signs of waning.”

Director of publicity John Francis added: “The end of summer is a great time to enjoy an excellently written murder-mystery. As the evenings draw in, a cosy night in a fine theatre with a plot shaped like a theme park ride will be a diversion to be relished.”

The show runs from tonight (Monday) to Saturday September 13 at 7.30pm each evening. Tickets cost between £7 and £8.50. To book, call 856548, buy tickets at the theatre between 7pm and 8pm or visit www.talismantheatre.co.uk