RECENTLY named the world’s favourite Agatha Christie novel in a global poll, The Agatha Christie Theatre Company’s production of And Then There Were None has a lot to live and die up to, writes KATE CLAXTON.

Opening against a grand Art Deco living room, complete with a beautiful floor-to-ceiling window and an impressive changing skyline, we begin to meet our cast.

One-by-one a group of 10 strangers arrive at a mansion on Soldier Island, each having been invited to a house party by a mysterious host, Mr U N Owen. The sound of waves lapping on a nearby shore make it clear from the outset that isolation is the name of Christie’s game in this story.

Ever the competitive viewer, my attention was divided equally between scouring the scene for initial clues and trying to remember where I’d seen the familiar faces of the cast before.

The clues arrived as thick and fast as the house guests but with the introduction of a creepy gramophone recording and a disturbing nursery rhyme it became clear that our host intended to serve up a little more than vol-au-vents at this soirée.

Cue poison, pistols and a couple of offstage accidents and our cast slowly realise that they are being picked off one by one, the stormy seas outside providing no means of escape.

Based faithfully on Christie’s best-selling novel, this play is understandably wordy.

Clever lighting and slick sleight of hand help build suspense but there’s no escaping the need to concentrate and listen hard to fully understand what’s playing out before you.

Thankfully, the stellar cast deliver the weighty script with humour and style and the inclusion of two short intervals and several well-timed curtain drops allow for whoduNnit discussions with your neighbours. The Wyvern’s full house was abuzz with discussion but I didn’t hear anyone identify the correct culprit – testament to Christie’s red herring laden writing and Joe Harmston’s dexterous direction.

The recognisable cast are generally faultless but special mention must go to Eric Carte’s General Mackenzie for the welcome light relief as we catch him slipping in and out of consciousness, providing yet another twist to our tale.

Running at the Wyvern Theatre until Saturday, October 3, And Then There Were None is a classy celebration of Christie genius that will keep you guessing till the end and discussing even longer.