Murder thriller will be Eastbourne summer highlight

The cast has been confirmed for Eastbourne’s dip into Dial M for Murder which will run from July 2-11 at the Devonshire Park Theatre.

The production will be a revival of the classic stage thriller that inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film.

Taking to the stage will be Tanya-Loretta Dee as Margot Wendice, Pete Ashmore as Tony Wendice, Simon Pothecary takes the role of Max Halliday, actress Katy Dean will be asking the questions in the role of Inspector Hubbard and Phil Stewart will be Captain Lesgate.

Tanya-Loretta Dee makes her Eastbourne debut. Tanya’s television credits include EastEnders, Peaky Blinders and The Bill. On stage, she has worked with Sir Alan Ayckbourn on Things We Do For Love and Constant Companions, Chris Sonnex on the Arcola Theatre’s Bangers and The New Vic Theatre on Marieke Audsley’s Ladies Day.

Pete Ashmore returns to the Devonshire Park. He’s previously appeared in Strangers On A Train, Bedroom Farce and Murder By Misadventure in Eastbourne. Other credits include The Rivals (The Orange Tree) and Romeo & Juliet (Belgrade Coventry, Bristol Old Vic and Hackney Empire). TV includes Suspect – The Shooting Of Jean Charles De Menezes (Disney+) and The Crown (Netflix).

Simon Pothecary’s credits include The Woman in Black (West End, UK tour); Not About Heroes (West End, UK tour); Romeo and Juliet (international tour); Much Ado About Nothing, Love’s Labour’s Lost (Cambridge Shakespeare Festival). Simon has also worked in Motion Capture for AAA Video Games, Feature Films. TV includes Fantastic Beasts: The Secret’s of Dumbledore (Warner Bros/Framestore); Love, Death & Robots (Netflix/Axis Studios).

Katy Dean last appeared in Eastbourne in the tour of JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls at The Congress Theatre and Table Manners, Absent Friends, Abigail’s Party and Gaslight at the Devonshire Park. Other theatre credits include The Full Monty, Body Double, Trespass, Blithe Spirit, Spend Spend Spend (Best Actress Nominee – Union Theatre), Blood Brothers (UK tour and London West End). Television includes: The Gathering (Channel 4) and Emmerdale (ITV).

Phil Stewart is another Eastbourne favourite who has appeared many times at both the Congress and Devonshire Park including An Inspector Calls and in the summer season productions of The Invisible Man and The 39 Steps (Eastbourne Theatres). His west End credits include The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, The Audience and Blood Brothers. Television includes The Bill and Brits Who Made The Modern World and the film Broken Church.

Presented by phil&ben Productions in association with Eastbourne Productions, Dial M for Murder runs from July 2-11. To book see eastbournetheatres.co.uk or call 01323 412000.