Chichester's Poirot's rehearsals: a first look at Murder On The Orient Express

The celebrated detective Hercule Poirot boards the legendary Orient Express, enjoying the prospect of a luxurious rail journey from Istanbul to Calais in the dead of winter.

By Phil Hewitt

Published 10th May 2022, 16:17 GMT

Updated 10th May 2022, 16:19 GMT

The train is surprisingly packed for the time of year; only the intervention of the manager secures Poirot a first class berth, alongside an intriguing and glittering company of international travellers. But just after midnight, the Orient Express screeches to a halt, marooned by a snowdrift. And by morning, one passenger is dead…

Murder On The Orient Express, by Agatha Christie, adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig, is at Chichester Festival Theatre from May 13-June 4.