From the producers of The Mousetrap comes And Then There Were None, one of Agatha Christie’s best-selling crime novels.
Ahead of the opening of And Then There Were None at Her Majesty’s Theatre this weekend, we asked Mia Morrissey, who plays the role of Vera Claythorne, about her journey with the show.
What attracted you to And Then There Were None?
Lots of things! First of all; The chance to work with the incomparable Robyn Nevin. She is so crystal clear in her vision and unrelenting in her pursuit of excellence, so I knew that being in a show with her at the helm was bound to be remarkable. I am glad to say, I was right. She has such a way of elevating all those around her.
I also was immediately drawn to the character of Vera Claythorne. She is a complicated woman written by a complicated woman and it shows. It's really an honour to play her. I was also excited by the fact that Agatha Christie is so well known for her 'fun and flighty' murder mysteries but And Then There Were None has those qualities, it also has a really dark twist. It is a true thriller. This subverting of genre by leaning into genre has been a delight for us actors and audiences alike!
What sets this show apart from your past experiences?
Well, the majority of my stage experience has been musical theatre and And Then There Were None certainly isn't that! However, in our show, precision is of the utmost importance so audience members never get a hint of who the killer might be! Thus, our staging has felt like choreography and there is even a specificity in the musicality of the dialogue. So, while it is definitely not a musical, my training and experience in this area has certainly helped.
Are you a murder mystery fan? If so, what's your favourite?
I am actually a big scaredy cat with a runaway imagination. Thus, I have never really been a fan of any sort of murder mystery, horror, or thriller... But funnily enough, over the past few years I have exclusively worked on series, films and plays/musicals that all revolve around some sort of horrible murder! And Then There Were None was actually the first Agatha Christie book I'd read. I sense now it won't be the last...
Describe the show in three words.
Murder (obviously)...Intrigue... and... Whiskey!
Looking to find out whodunnit?
Get your tickets to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None for their limited season, opening this week.