Agatha Christie’s Witness For The Prosecution Staged In Real London Courtroom

Agatha Christie, born in Torquay, Cornwall in 1890, became and remains the bestselling novelist of all time. While there are many excellent films and TV productions of Agatha Christie’s mystery stories, nothing can beat the thrill of seeing a live performance on stage. And in fact, the world’s longest running play is Christie’s murder mystery The Mousetrap which opened in London in 1952 and continues to delight audiences today. In 1953, Witness for the Prosecution, a gripping story of justice, passion and betrayal, was adapted for stage by Agatha Christie from her 1925 short story, Traitor Hands. A brilliant new, site-specific production of Witness for the Prosecution is currently on stage in a unique courtroom setting inside London County Hall, adjacent to the London Eye on London’s South Bank.

Witness for the Prosecution first opened to great acclaim at London’s Winter Garden in 1953 and on Broadway the following year. It was also a star-studded film directed by Billy Wilder in 1957, with Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich and Elsa Lanchester in the lead roles.

The new production of Witness for the Prosecution, in the Chamber at County Hall, is directed by Lucy Bailey and was developed with the support and involvement of the Christie family. The production places the audience in the centre of the action within the courtroom and the jury is made up of audience members. The viewer is immersed in the court setting, with the judge and witness box at one end and the audience seated in the public gallery and in the jury’s seats. The stage in the center switches between the lawyer’s chambers and the courtroom floor.

The Chamber at London County Hall is an excellent stand in for the historic Old Bailey, the UK’s central criminal court. It really does feel like an authentic courtroom and of course it was a place of important local government policy debates. Designed by architect Ralph Knott, County Hall was officially opened by King George V and Queen Mary on 17 July 1922. For 64 years, County Hall served as the headquarters of local government for London. The octagonal Council Chamber where the play takes place is at the centre of County Hall and was where 200 council members debated on policy, with four galleries overlooking the Chamber for the public and members of the press.

According to her autobiography, Witness for the Prosecution was one of Agatha Christie’s favorites of all her works. She said “one night at the theatre stands out in my memory especially; the first night of Witness for the Prosecution. I can safely say that that was the only first night I have enjoyed….It was one of my plays that I like best myself.”

Agatha Christie’s engrossing courtroom classic features Leonard Vole accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The charming Mr. Vole seems an unlikely suspect but his German wife Romaine and other witnesses appear to have axes to grind. Of course with Agatha Christie, nothing is straightforward: the plot is full of twists, turns and surprises. The narrative is exciting and well paced, with a conclusion that elicits gasps from the audience. But the biggest thrill of this production is the setting: watching the play unfold in the grand debating chamber, now courtroom.

Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall, Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7PB Booking until 25 Sept 2022. Tickets from £12.