Murder in the Studio - Three Radio Plays by Agatha Workington Playgoers Present Christie by Kind Permission of Samuel French The Workington Playgoers are the first British amateur dramatic society to be granted a licence to perform this classic collection of three spine-tingling radio plays by Agatha Christie, including Yellow Iris, which features everyone’s favourite detective, the inimitable Hercule Poirot. The other two plays are Personal Call and Butter in a Lordly Dish. Come and relive the 1950s heyday of BBC broadcasting, with this script-in-hand performance of three intriguing radio plays that will keep you guessing till the very end. ‘Radio owes much to Agatha Christie. For more than 60 years, her whodunnits have been shaped into afternoon plays, classic serials and Saturday-night dramas that defend the moral order, stimulate the grey cells.’ Sunday Times By Kind Permission of Samuel French Ltd The first Agatha Christie radio drama was produced for the BBC in 1937. It was an adaptation of a short story called The Yellow Iris. It was the start of a prolific association with the BBC that would last for over 20 years. Agatha Christie in 1922 © The Christie Archive Trust Tuesday 16th - Saturday 20th October Curtain Up - 7.30pm Agatha Christie at a Recording of Yellow Iris In 1948 she wrote , Butter in a Lordly Dish - the first in a series of plays from The Detection club, of which only Christie’s episode now survives. In May 1954 Christie wrote an original radio script for the Detection Directors Jenni Rushton & Keith Beattie Club called Personal Call. It went out on the Light Programme. It was to be her last new writing credit for the BBC. ACT ONE - Radio Play 1 The Detection Club The Detection Club was founded in 1930 by a group of leading Butter in a Lordly Dish detective novelists. The prime mover was Anthony Berkeley and founder members included Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie and Butter in a Lordly Dish, written specially for radio Freeman Wills Crofts. It is the oldest and most august society of crime in 1948, features Richard Williams as Sir Luke writers in the world. Members are elected by secret ballot and there is an 'initiation ceremony' which involves the taking of an oath, the Enderby KC, whose infidelities lead him into trouble wording of which has varied over the years. when he goes to meet his latest flame. Keith Beattie/ Sir Luke Enderby The Detection Club Rules Grace Walker/Lady Marion Enderby Liz Chapman/Julia Keene Do you promise that your detectives shall well and truly Sarah Delorme/ Susan Warren detect the crimes presented to them, using those wits Pam Hayes/ Mrs Petter Jane Douglas/Florrie Petter which it may please you to bestow upon them and no Richard Harris/Hayward/Porter placing reliance on, nor making use of Divine Joel Indiana/Live Sound Operator Revelation, Feminine Intuition, Mumbo-Jumbo, Jiggery- Pokery, Coincidence or the Act of God? I do. Do you solemnly swear never to conceal a vital clue from the reader? Butter in a Lordly Dish I do. Do you promise to observe a seemly moderation in the use of Gangs, Conspiracies, Death-Rays, Ghosts, Hypnotism, Trap-Doors, Chinamen, Super-Criminals and Lunatics; and utterly and forever to forswear Mysterious Poisons unknown to Science I do. Will you honour the King’s English? I will. ACT ONE - Radio Play 2 ACT TWO Personal Call Yellow Iris A disturbing telephone call from a woman named Fay Poirot arrives at a party being held by a rich American, exactly one year since his wife Iris had has consequences for both Richard Brent and his wife been killed at a similar event. The only difference Pam. between now and then is the presence of Poirot – can Sarah Delorme/ Fay Brent he find her killer? Andrew Young/James Brent Richard Harris/ Hercule Poirot Sylvia Heaney/ Pam Brent Jane Douglas/ Pauline Weatherby Liz Chapman / Mrs Lamb Grace Walker/Señora Lola Valdez Richard Harris/Evan Curtis/Porter Ian Quirk/ Barton Russell Neil Richardson/Mr Enderby/Station Announcer Saturday Night Barton Russell played by Keith Beattie James Last/Inspector Narracott James Last/Anthony Chappell/Luigi Pam Hayes/ Operator/Mary Curtis Andrew Young/ Stephen Carter Joel Indiana/Live Sound Operator Alyson Douglas/ Night club singer Val Hetherington/ Pianist Joel Indiana/Live Sound Operator INTERVAL Personal Call Yellow Iris Liz Chapman - A member of Playgoers for many Sylvia Heaney - A long standing member of Playgoers years. Memorable performances: Andy in the 1993 but has not been seen in a play many years. Memorable production of Stepping Out as Annie Wilkes in the performances: Karen in the 1987 production of The 2003 production of Misery and Mag Folen in The Anniversary, as Miss Frobisher in Pardon me Prime Beauty Queen of Leenane. Minister and as Mimi in 1990 production of ‘Allo ‘Allo. James Last - A new member of Playgoers this year. Sarah Delorme - A Junior member of Playgoers. He has recently finished his studies at the University of Memorable performances: Rita in the 2004 production of Hull where he gained a BA in Drama and Theatre Educating Rita, Annie in 2012 production of Calendar Practices. Since joining he has been very busy. He has Girls and Joan Smiley in the 2016 production of The taken part in The Tempest and joined the cast of Cat-in- Perfect Murder. a-Box as ‘techy’ when they took the production to the Jane Douglas - A member of Playgoers for many Ian Quirk - A member of Playgoers a few years ago years. Memorable performances: Peggy in the 2002 when he appeared in 2003 production of The production of Silly Cow, Fiona Foster in the 2014 Gingerbread Man. He has recently returned, joining the production of How the Other Half Loves and as Kamila in Theatre Royal Shakespeare Players. He has performed 2016 production of The Perfect Murder. in all their productions and recently played Ferdinand in the 2018 production of The Tempest. Richard Harris - Joined Playgoers in 2014. He Neil Richardson - He enjoys playing small but appeared in When Did You last See Your Trousers interesting parts such as Mr Oxenby in the 1998 as the Police Inspector. He also appeared in Under production of The Dresser and the Vicar in the 2016 Milk Wood earlier this year. production of Dad’s Army. However he did take on the more taxing role of Lt. Gruber in the 2007 production of ‘Allo ‘Allo. Pam Hayes - A member of Playgoers for many Grace Walker - A member of Playgoers for many years. Memorable performances: Lady Chiltern in years. Memorable performances: Belinda Blair in the the 1996 production of An Ideal Husband as 1991 production of Noises Off , as Catherine Sloper in Hannah Llewellyn in the 1994 production of the 1993 production of The Heiress, Chris in Calendar Chorus of Disapproval and as Jessie in the 2012 Girls and recently as Grace in the 2016 production of production of Calendar Girls. Entertaining Angels. A member of playgoers for a few Joel Indiana - A member of TRY Council our Andrew Young - years now. Memorable performances: as the young D.C. Junior Section of Playgoers at the Theatre Royal. Roy Grace in the 2016 production of The Perfect Murder Memorable performance as the King of Hearts in and as Private Pike in the 2016 production of Dad’s Alice in Wonderland. Army. Stage Crew Set design and Construction Geoff Brinicombe, Tony Magorrian, Ken Huddart, Simon Guilford, Sarah Delorme and Jenni Rushton Sound operator——————————————— Oliver Brinicombe Live Sound Operator————————————————Joel Indiana Lighting Operator —————————————Geoff Brinicombe Sound recordist —————————————————————Paul Adams Stage Manager——————————————————————————Rod Earl Props ————————————————————————————Chris Jackson Wardrobe ——————————Helen Earl and Jenni Rushton Live Sound Effects Sound and Lighting Effects Crew Special Thanks to Stephan Escritt of Ragged Edge Productions for giving up his time and giving such invaluable advice. Also to the pianist Val Hetherington who worked with Alyson Douglas on the songs in Yellow Iris. Times and Star Review by Lynne Wilde Why not book for our Christmas Productions Friday 19th October 2018 while you are in the theatre. The Box Office is open. Brassed Off Tuesday 4th December - Saturday 8th December Workington Playgoers & Workington Town Band Production A Christmas Carol Saturday 15 December - Sunday 16th December Theatre Royal Youth Production .