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{{FHODS Banner | {{FHODS Banner | ||
| eyebrow = FHODS Production · 2026 | | eyebrow = FHODS Production · 2026 | ||
| title = | | title = The Mirror Crack'd | ||
| sub = | | sub = Agatha Christie's Classic Mystery · The Tower Theatre, Folkestone | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Infobox Production | {{Infobox Production | ||
| title = | | title = The Mirror Crack'd | ||
| image = | | image = The_Mirror_Crackd_(2026).jpg | ||
| caption = | | caption = The Mirror Crack'd promotional image | ||
| dates = | | dates = 12–15 March 2026 | ||
| venue = [[The Tower Theatre]] | | venue = [[The Tower Theatre]] | ||
| director = [[ | | director = [[Graham Jeffery]] | ||
| writer = [[ | | writer = [[Agatha Christie]] (adapted by Rachel Wagstaff) | ||
| producer = [[ | | producer = [[Karen Prineas]] | ||
| license = Amateur production by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd | | license = Amateur production by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd | ||
}} | }} | ||
The [[Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society]] presented [[ | The [[Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society]] presented Agatha Christie's [[The Mirror Crack'd]] on 12th–15th March 2026 at [[The Tower Theatre]], Folkestone. An amateur production by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. | ||
{{FHODS Section| | {{FHODS Section|Foreword}} | ||
{{FHODS Foreword | |||
| text = Welcome to The Tower Theatre, and thank you for coming to see our production of Agatha Christie's ''The Mirror Crack'd''. | |||
Agatha Christie's novel, ''The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side'', was published in 1962 and set in England where a wind of change is blowing, even in the sleepy village of St Mary Mead. Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and first produced in 2019, the stage version brings real emotional depth and psychological insight to a classic mystery of revenge and dark secrets; it explores how we all colour our own memories, our own truths, to disguise the darkness that lies within. Not so much a 'whodunnit' as a 'whydunnit'. | |||
Jane Marple, confined to a chair after an accident, is wondering if life is passing her by, when a fading American film star buys the local manor house and there is a vicious murder. While others search for material evidence, Miss Marple conducts a very different investigation — into human nature, unravelling a web of lies, tragedy and danger. | |||
I have enjoyed working with a great producer and superb creative team to present our version of the iconic Miss Marple and her world. We hope you enjoy sifting your way through all the clues and red herrings to finally solve the mystery. We also look forward to welcoming you again in September when the same team present ''Gypsy'', the outstanding musical by Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne. | |||
The action takes place in several locations, including Miss Marple's home, Gossington Hall, Hellingforth Film Studios and Marina Gregg's dressing room. Time: July 1962. | |||
| author = [[Graham Jeffery]] | |||
| role = Director | |||
}} | |||
{{FHODS Section|Synopsis}} | |||
Two short plays by [[Jack Heifner]] which provide endearing studies of small town Texas women. In ''Patio'', Pearl is throwing a going away party for her older sister, a hairdresser who is leaving to make it big in the city. As they bustle about the patio their conversation gradually reveals more and more of their differences and dreams and the emptiness that has pervaded both their lives. ''Porch'' is a striking hour in the lives of a mother and daughter in a sleepy town crippled by a Texan heatwave. Through the mother's dry and often cutting humour we see how her daughter has become trapped by maternal ties and her own inadequacies — a moving portrait of two women, beset by quiet desperation whose only weapons are sarcasm, sublimated passions and, finally, the truth. | |||
{{FHODS Section|Agatha Christie}} | |||
Born in Torquay, England in 1890, [[Agatha Christie]] is the best-selling novelist of all time. With over one billion books sold in English and another billion in over 100 languages, she is outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She wrote 80 crime novels and collections of short stories, over 25 plays (including ''The Mousetrap'', the world's longest running play), and six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. Her first novel, ''The Mysterious Affair at Styles'', introduced the world to the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, followed a decade later by the shrewd and often-underestimated Miss Marple. | |||
{{FHODS Section|Cast}} | {{FHODS Section|Cast}} | ||
| Line 55: | Line 49: | ||
| group1_style = leads | | group1_style = leads | ||
| group1 = | | group1 = | ||
[[ | [[Charmian Heselden]];;Miss Jane Marple | ||
[[ | [[Stephanie Pittam]];;Marina Gregg | ||
[[ | [[Chris Henry]];;Chief Inspector Dermot Craddock | ||
[[ | [[Kelly Yarrow]];;Dolly Bantry | ||
[[ | [[Graham Burgess]];;Jason Rudd | ||
[[ | [[Andrea Reid]];;Heather Leigh | ||
[[ | [[Olivia Coley]];;Lola Brewster | ||
[[ | [[Stephanie Plumb]];;Ella Zielinsky | ||
[[ | [[Natalie Cornish]];;Cherry Baker | ||
[[Richard Hawkins]];;Giuseppe Renzo | |||
[[Paul Milton]];;Cyril Leigh | |||
}} | }} | ||
| Line 71: | Line 67: | ||
| section1_label = Direction & Production | | section1_label = Direction & Production | ||
| section1 = | | section1 = | ||
Director;;[[ | Director;;[[Graham Jeffery]] | ||
Producer;;[[ | Producer;;[[Karen Prineas]] | ||
Stage Manager;;[[Michael Pearce]] | Stage Manager;;[[Michael Pearce]] | ||
Deputy Stage Manager;;[[Leigh Chambers]] & [[ | Deputy Stage Manager;;[[Leigh Chambers]] & [[Michael Pearce]] | ||
Prompt;;[[ | Prompt;;[[Jeanette Lewis]] | ||
| section2_label = Design & Technical | | section2_label = Design & Technical | ||
| section2 = | | section2 = | ||
Set Design;;[[ | Set Design;;[[Eleanor Prineas]] | ||
Set Construction;;[[Stuart Parry]], [[Michael Pearce]], [[Andy Hartley]], [[Mike Manton]], [[Karen Prineas]], [[Mark Prineas]], [[Eleanor Prineas]] & [[Graham Jeffery]] | |||
Set Construction;;[[ | Lighting;;[[Eleanor Boyle]] | ||
Lighting | Sound;;[[Konrad Eke]] | ||
Props;;[[Myra Collingridge]] & [[Eleanor Prineas]] | |||
Sound | Wigs;;[[Davey Lewis]] | ||
| section3_label = Wardrobe | |||
| section3_label = Wardrobe | |||
| section3 = | | section3 = | ||
Costume;;[[Sheelagh Blackham]] | |||
Costume;;[[Kate Richmond | Costume Alterations;;[[Kate Richmond]] | ||
| section4_label = Media & Marketing | | section4_label = Media & Marketing | ||
| section4 = | | section4 = | ||
Design/Media;;[[Malcolm Laye]] | Design/Media;;[[Malcolm Laye]] | ||
Illustrations;;[[Eleanor Prineas]] | |||
Photography;;[[Graham Jeffery]] | |||
FHODS Marketing;;[[Merewyn Forrest]] | FHODS Marketing;;[[Merewyn Forrest]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| Line 105: | Line 101: | ||
}} | }} | ||
<div class="fhods-footer-note">FHODS extends its thanks to the Front of House volunteers and Bar Team. Anyone interested in | <div class="fhods-footer-note">FHODS extends its thanks to the Front of House volunteers and Bar Team. Anyone interested in volunteering at the theatre can contact Joanne Pearce at [mailto:foh@towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk foh@towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk].</div> | ||
{{FHODS Section| | {{FHODS Section|Kent Drama Association Full-length Play Festival}} | ||
We are very excited to have entered our production of ''The Mirror Crack'd'' into KDA's Drama Festival. | |||
The Kent Drama Association was established in 1935 to help amateur drama societies in Kent. KDA run a Full-length Play Festival each year, an occasional Radio Play Festival, and help societies to publicise their productions and to share useful information. | |||
For our performances, we are delighted to introduce Jack Davidson as our adjudicator. | |||
==Jack Davidson — Theatre Director and Mentor== | |||
Jack Davidson has been immersed in the world of theatre for over 25 years, transforming a childhood passion into a career. His extensive experience spans various facets of the industry, including adapting and producing productions, directing, choreographing, and educating. Jack's diverse portfolio showcases his versatility and dedication to the art form, with numerous plays, musicals, pantomimes, and concerts under his belt. His commitment to theatre is evident in every project he undertakes, always striving to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the stage. | |||
Throughout his career, Jack has had the privilege of collaborating with a wide range of talented individuals and organisations, enriching his understanding and approach to theatre. | |||
His current focus is on building new relationships and connections within the industry, continually seeking opportunities to contribute his expertise. Jack is available for directing and producing roles, as well as offering his skills in troubleshooting and mentoring. Whether through one-to-one sessions, group workshops, or corporate engagements, Jack is dedicated to fostering growth and excellence in every endeavour. | |||
In addition to his professional achievements, Jack has a deep-rooted passion for theatre education. He has spent many years working in schools and educational settings, sharing his knowledge and nurturing the talents of both children and adults. His commitment to providing top quality educational experiences is reflected in his ability to inspire and develop the next generation of theatre professionals. Jack's educational work is a testament to his belief in the power of theatre to transform lives and build a vibrant future for the performing arts. | |||
{{FHODS Foreword | |||
| text = My approach to having the honour of being the KDA adjudicator is rooted in fully engaging with the incredible work presented on stage. As an adjudicator, I am not one to sit back and read from a script while performances unfold. Instead, I immerse myself in the production, appreciating the dedication and effort that each group has poured into their work. I see it as my role to encourage and support the development of groups and societies at every level — from directors and actors to stage crews and set designers. A successful production is the result of all these elements coming together in harmony, and I aim to recognise and nurture that collaborative spirit. | |||
| author = Jack Davidson | |||
| role = KDA Adjudicator | |||
}} | }} | ||
[[Category:Productions at The Tower Theatre]] | |||
[[Category:2026 Productions]] | [[Category:2026 Productions]] | ||
[[Category:Productions written by Agatha Christie]] | |||
[[Category:Productions written by | |||
Latest revision as of 21:17, 16 June 2026
The Mirror Crack'd
Agatha Christie's Classic Mystery · The Tower Theatre, Folkestone
| The Mirror Crack'd | |
.jpg) The Mirror Crack'd promotional image | |
| Production Details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 12–15 March 2026 |
| Venue | The Tower Theatre |
| Director | Graham Jeffery |
| Writer | Agatha Christie (adapted by Rachel Wagstaff) |
| Producer | Karen Prineas |
| Amateur production by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd | |
The Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society presented Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd on 12th–15th March 2026 at The Tower Theatre, Folkestone. An amateur production by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.
Foreword
Welcome to The Tower Theatre, and thank you for coming to see our production of Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd.
Agatha Christie's novel, The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, was published in 1962 and set in England where a wind of change is blowing, even in the sleepy village of St Mary Mead. Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and first produced in 2019, the stage version brings real emotional depth and psychological insight to a classic mystery of revenge and dark secrets; it explores how we all colour our own memories, our own truths, to disguise the darkness that lies within. Not so much a 'whodunnit' as a 'whydunnit'.
Jane Marple, confined to a chair after an accident, is wondering if life is passing her by, when a fading American film star buys the local manor house and there is a vicious murder. While others search for material evidence, Miss Marple conducts a very different investigation — into human nature, unravelling a web of lies, tragedy and danger.
I have enjoyed working with a great producer and superb creative team to present our version of the iconic Miss Marple and her world. We hope you enjoy sifting your way through all the clues and red herrings to finally solve the mystery. We also look forward to welcoming you again in September when the same team present Gypsy, the outstanding musical by Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne.
The action takes place in several locations, including Miss Marple's home, Gossington Hall, Hellingforth Film Studios and Marina Gregg's dressing room. Time: July 1962.
- Graham Jeffery, Director
Synopsis
Two short plays by Jack Heifner which provide endearing studies of small town Texas women. In Patio, Pearl is throwing a going away party for her older sister, a hairdresser who is leaving to make it big in the city. As they bustle about the patio their conversation gradually reveals more and more of their differences and dreams and the emptiness that has pervaded both their lives. Porch is a striking hour in the lives of a mother and daughter in a sleepy town crippled by a Texan heatwave. Through the mother's dry and often cutting humour we see how her daughter has become trapped by maternal ties and her own inadequacies — a moving portrait of two women, beset by quiet desperation whose only weapons are sarcasm, sublimated passions and, finally, the truth.
Agatha Christie
Born in Torquay, England in 1890, Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist of all time. With over one billion books sold in English and another billion in over 100 languages, she is outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She wrote 80 crime novels and collections of short stories, over 25 plays (including The Mousetrap, the world's longest running play), and six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, introduced the world to the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, followed a decade later by the shrewd and often-underestimated Miss Marple.
Cast
Production Team
Direction & Production
- Director – Graham Jeffery
ProducerDesign & Technical
- Set Design – Eleanor Prineas
Set ConstructionWardrobe
- Costume – Sheelagh Blackham
Costume AlterationsMedia & Marketing
- Design/Media – Malcolm Laye
Illustrations
For The Tower Theatre
Kent Drama Association Full-length Play Festival
We are very excited to have entered our production of The Mirror Crack'd into KDA's Drama Festival.
The Kent Drama Association was established in 1935 to help amateur drama societies in Kent. KDA run a Full-length Play Festival each year, an occasional Radio Play Festival, and help societies to publicise their productions and to share useful information.
For our performances, we are delighted to introduce Jack Davidson as our adjudicator.
Jack Davidson — Theatre Director and Mentor
Jack Davidson has been immersed in the world of theatre for over 25 years, transforming a childhood passion into a career. His extensive experience spans various facets of the industry, including adapting and producing productions, directing, choreographing, and educating. Jack's diverse portfolio showcases his versatility and dedication to the art form, with numerous plays, musicals, pantomimes, and concerts under his belt. His commitment to theatre is evident in every project he undertakes, always striving to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the stage.
Throughout his career, Jack has had the privilege of collaborating with a wide range of talented individuals and organisations, enriching his understanding and approach to theatre.
His current focus is on building new relationships and connections within the industry, continually seeking opportunities to contribute his expertise. Jack is available for directing and producing roles, as well as offering his skills in troubleshooting and mentoring. Whether through one-to-one sessions, group workshops, or corporate engagements, Jack is dedicated to fostering growth and excellence in every endeavour.
In addition to his professional achievements, Jack has a deep-rooted passion for theatre education. He has spent many years working in schools and educational settings, sharing his knowledge and nurturing the talents of both children and adults. His commitment to providing top quality educational experiences is reflected in his ability to inspire and develop the next generation of theatre professionals. Jack's educational work is a testament to his belief in the power of theatre to transform lives and build a vibrant future for the performing arts.
My approach to having the honour of being the KDA adjudicator is rooted in fully engaging with the incredible work presented on stage. As an adjudicator, I am not one to sit back and read from a script while performances unfold. Instead, I immerse myself in the production, appreciating the dedication and effort that each group has poured into their work. I see it as my role to encourage and support the development of groups and societies at every level — from directors and actors to stage crews and set designers. A successful production is the result of all these elements coming together in harmony, and I aim to recognise and nurture that collaborative spirit.
- Jack Davidson, KDA Adjudicator