Dial M for Murder

An acclaimed touring production of classic thriller Dial M for Murder kicks off March at the Playhouse.The play, made famous by the Alfred Hitchcock film, tells the story of the cold and calculating Tony Wendice who is convinced his wife is having an affair. He sets out to plan and execute the perfect murder, until it falters in the most unexpected way. Claustrophobic and frightening, Lucy Bailey's celebrated production reclaims the tale of betrayal, passion and ultimately, murder.Dial M for Murder is brought to the stage by Fiery Angel, who the Everyman and Playhouse have previously worked with on The 39 Steps in 2009 and the hugely successful The Ladykillers in 2011, which went on to claim five Olivier Award nominations.Christopher Timothy plays the role of Inspector Hubbard. Christopher is best known for his TV roles as James Herriott in All Creatures Great and Small and as Mac McGuire in BBC’s long-running daytime show Doctors. Stepping into the shoes of Grace Kelly from Hitchcock’s film, Kelly Hotten plays the role of Sheila Wendice. Other roles are played by Daniel Betts (Tony Wendice), Philip Cairns (Max Halliday), and Robert Perkins (Captain Lesgate).Frederick Knott wrote a number of stage plays, of which Dial M for Murder was the first and probably his most successful. It premiered in 1952 as a BBC television play, before being performed on the stage in the same year in the West End and then Broadway. Knott went on to write the screenplay for the 1954 Hitchcock film and another of his plays, Wait Until Dark, was filmed with Audrey Hepburn.Lucy Bailey’s directing credits include The Postman Always Rings Twice in the West End and a number of productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company, including The Taming of the Shrew, The Winter’s Tale and Julius Caesar, which also transferred to New York.Catch the show at the Playhouse from March 4 to 8.