Agatha Christie’s Death On The Nile At Royal & Derngate Northampton Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Amanda Dando
If you have not visited the Royal & Derngate Theatre before it sits in the Cultural Sector in Northampton. There is plenty of parking in the surrounding area and even though we have visited many times we found a new one tonight which was closer, which is great on a wet windy November evening. The theatre has plenty of bars where you can buy a variety of drinks and snacks, all the staff are super smiley and helpful.
The audience was of a certain age, which was to be expected for an Agatha Christie play. Death on the Nile, a tale that really has stood the test of time was written by Agatha Christie and published in the UK in 1937. I am sure everyone knows that Death on the Nile features the very famous detective, Hercule Poirot, I will of course not spoil the story and its outcomes! The premise of the play is around Egyptian artefacts, an heiress, a cruise on the Nile, and of course Poirot is on this cruise. For those who like a good murder mystery who done it, this is the play for you.
Although the set is quite plain, it adapts well throughout the play and is perfectly believable as the cruise ship! Right from the start you are completely swept away with everyone’s costumes. The attention to detail for the clothing of the time is great, not just for the women, who were utterly glamorous most of the time, Glynis Barber who plays Salome Otterbourne has some amazing outfits. The men are equally well attired, of course supremely smartly dressed in keeping with the era.
The play is full of murder and deceit, but also humorous double meaning which made the audience laugh out loud throughout. Mark Hadfield as Hercule Poirot was outstanding throughout and looked born to play Poirot. The whole cast worked well together and certainly built the story up very well. You think you know who did what, where and when, and then realise you didn’t really know at all. It was most certainly a night to remember, a good murder mystery keeps your mind active and entertained, which of course if more than good reason for a night out at the theatre.
If you are thinking of venturing out this week, you wouldn’t be disappointed with Death on the Nile, why not join Hercule Poirot and the rest of the guests on the river Nile and see if you can work out who done it! Did Hercule Poirot have all the answers to the mystery, you will have to go see it for yourself to find out!
Rating: 3/5
Tickets from £15 plus transaction £4 fee available from royalandderngate.co.uk or call the Box Office 01604 624811 Death on the Nile is at the Royal and Derngate Northampton Tuesday 4 November to Saturday 8th November 2025 Royal and Derngate 19-21 Guildhall Road Northampton NN1 1DP