Murder, Margaret And Me

The New Venture Theatre in Brighton is hosting a production of Murder, Margaret And Me on 15 May 2026. This comic thriller is set within the Elstree film studios and focuses on the interactions between the writer Agatha Christie and the actress Margaret Rutherford. The narrative centres on the period around 1960, when Christie sold the rights to her books to MGM for the production of the Miss Marple films. It is a look at the professional and personal dynamics between the two women during that specific time in film history.

At the time, Margaret Rutherford was cast as the lead, though she initially declined the role, describing the subject of murder as a "sordid business". She eventually accepted the part, despite Christie’s initial reservations regarding how closely the actress matched her own vision of the detective. Over time, however, the relationship evolved, and Christie eventually dedicated her novel The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side to Rutherford. The play examines the factors that led to this change in Christie’s perspective, presenting a scenario where Rutherford is harbouring a "deep secret" that she intends to keep hidden, while Christie is portrayed as being determined to uncover it.

By focusing on these imagined conversations, the production explores the tension that existed behind the scenes of the classic film adaptations. It provides a look at the history behind the Miss Marple films, framing the events through the lens of the studio environment in which they occurred. The play does not rely on a single perspective, but rather balances the motivations of both women as they navigate their working relationship. For those interested in the history of British cinema or the literary background of Agatha Christie’s work, the production offers a dramatised account of how these two figures interacted during the creation of the Miss Marple series. It is a straightforward exploration of a specific moment in the lives of two well-known cultural figures, presented within the context of the New Venture Theatre’s upcoming schedule.