Written By
Agatha Christie
Where and When
24th – 26th October 2024 @ The Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne
The Plot
You have been summoned for jury service!
Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a rich widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high. Will Leonard survive the shocking witness testimony? Will he be able to convince the jury and you of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose?
SEE YOU IN COURT!
This amateur production of “Witness for the Prosecution” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
Ticket Info
- Thursday – Saturday Evenings at 7.30pm – £17.50
- Saturday Matinee at 2.30pm – £15.50
Cast
- Greta – Sali Pike
- Miss Carter – Judy Garrett
- Mr Mayhew – Gary Paine
- Leonard Vole – James Bourner
- Sir Wilfrid Robarts, Q.C. – Chris Durham
- Inspector Hearne – Rob Cording-Cook
- Plain-Clothes Detective / Warder – Richard Scotson
- Romaine – Andrea Pellegrini
- Clerk of the Court – Russ Guillaume
- Mr Justice Wainwright – Richard Neal
- Mr Myers, Q.C. – Sam Moulton
- Defence Barrister – Simon Jackson
- Prosecution Barrister – Jan Stevenson
- Foreman of the Jury – Amanda Senitt
- A Policeman – Andy Gill
- Dr Wyatt – Jenny Hughes
- Janet MacKenzie – Suzanne Viney
- Thomas Clegg – Calum Hearne
- The Other Woman – Jemma Cable
Creative Team
- Director – David Beddard-Banks
- Designer – Chris Durham
- Stage Manager – Tracey Nicholls
- Props/ASMs – Dee Hawes and Paul Senitt
- ASMs – Michelle Barter, Kira Bradford, Hope Paine and Colin Pile
- Sound Technician – Nick Clark
- Book Cover – Heather Birchenough
- Costumes – Rob Cording-Cook, Tracey Nicholls and Kira Bradford
Gallery
Reviews
Marilyn Barber, Dorset View
Wimborne Drama’s production of ‘Witness for the Prosecution,’ which ran from 24 to 26 October, was a triumph on every level.
Directed by David Beddard-Banks, the sets designed by Chris Durham were so impressive that the packed audiences felt they were the jury in the courtroom.
The play by Agatha Christie set in 1953 tells the story of Leonard Vole, who is accused of murdering a rich widow – and you are left guessing until the end as to whether he is guilty or not.
Every one of the huge cast of 19 deserves accolades, but space will only permit the mention of the main characters.
There were stunning performances with a wide range of emotions from James Bourner as Leonard Vole and Andrea Pellegrini as his ‘wife’ Romaine.
For the defence, Chris Durham had huge passion as the QC Sir Wilfred Roberts, teaming well with Gary Paine as Mr Mayhew, the accused’s solicitor.
Richard Neal had buckets of gravitas as the judge Mr Justice Wainwright, whilst Sam Moulton added a little humour as Mr Myers the Crown prosecutor and Russ Guillaume typified the serious Clerk of the Court.
Amongst the smaller parts, Sali Pike had excellent delivery as office worker Greta and Jemma Cable, shone as she does in all her performances as ‘the other woman’.
Other roles were played by Judy Garrett, Rob Cording-Cook, Richard Scotson, Jenny Hughes, Suzanne Viney and Calum Hearne.
Once again, Wimborne Drama has proved it is one of the best amateur dramatic companies in the area.
The next production at the Tivoli is the comedy ‘Worst Wedding Ever’ from 20–22 February 2025. Make a note in your diary now.
Anne Waggott, Scene One
Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a rich widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high. Will Leonard survive the shocking witness testimony? Will he be able to convince the jury – and you – of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose? Who is telling the truth and who can be trusted? Will the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth ever be revealed?
So many questions, which aren’t fully revealed until the final moments of the play… and which I won’t be revealing in spoilers here!
What isn’t in question, though, is what a slick and professionally performed production this is. In his directorial debut, David Beddard-Banks has ensured gripping performances, with a slick pace, excellent diction, projection and staging, and genuine drama.
On walking into the auditorium, you’re greeted with a seemingly simple set design for a 1930s legal Chambers in front of the curtains, which could lead you into a false sense of what’s to follow, but the grandiose reveal behind the curtains is well deserving of the audible gasp from a virtually full house. Appropriate preset music and pre-show announcement help to set the tone for the rest of the evening – and it’s one that depicts a cracking legal drama, written by the arguable queen of detective fiction, Agatha Christie.
This is a large ensemble cast (the largest being the audience as the jury!), without a weak link amongst the named actors, gelling together to become a cohesive ensemble and yet still maintaining distinctive characters. Their focus is commendable, particularly during long rhetoric from the respective barristers; it’s not easy to maintain that level of concentration on stage when ‘just’ sitting there, listening and watching proceedings!
Sam Moulton is superb as the Prosecution QC, Mr Myers, mesmerising and commanding both the stage and Court with his authoritative and totally convincing performance as an eminent member of the Bar, while Chris Durham is persuasive as his opposite number, Defence QC, Sir Wilfrid Robarts, whether during Court proceedings or in his Chambers.
James Bourner (Leonard) gives multiple dimensions to the accused, whilst Andrea Pellegrini, with impassioned and melodramatic outbursts from the dock, is equally fascinating and expressive as his partner, Romaine. Richard Neal (Mr Justice Wainwright) is also impressive as he controls the Court with equal measures of impartiality and an adherence to the letter of the Law.
Authentic period costumes, legal attire and set dressing, with atmospheric lighting, specific sound effects and particularly suitably dramatic scene changing music, complete the overall ambience. There is a large amount of dialogue to learn and, although I don’t usually ‘approve’ of the use of prompts outside of rehearsal periods, it’s understandable that this facility was used once or twice when possible opening night nerves kicked in. However, there is absolutely no reason to be nervous of this production. My verdict is that this is a splendid production of one of Christie’s most famous and well-loved plays, one that you will not regret seeing, and I thoroughly recommend it to Wimborne’s theatregoers!
Court is in session for Witness For The Prosecution at Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne until Saturday 26 October.
Programme
