Never one to sit down on the job Swindon amateur actor Annie Harvey has stepped up to the mark by tackling the role of a woman in a wheelchair.

John Fisher, from the Western Players Theatre Company, said: "Following her around with an actual chair as substitute, has been really funny in rehearsals.''

The Western Players are marking the 125th year since the birth of Agatha Christie by presenting one of her more unusual plays, The Verdict, at the Swindon Arts Centre this month.

The queen of whodunnit, turned tale on her usual format with The Verdict, working her plot backwards, as the audience is shown the murder up front. So the mystery is to prove that 'theydunnit!'

The 10-strong cast are directed by Julia Edwards, herself in need of helping hand through rehearsals, as she had to cope with wearing a medical boot after an operation on her ankle.

A veteran of the Western Players, Tony Manders, plays opposite Annie, as Karl Hendryk, her husband.

The plot revolves around Karl's ethics and when one of the rich, bright young things takes a fancy to him, it is his wife and her cousin Lisa Koletzky who bear the brunt of the consequences.

Agatha Christie is as popular today as in her hay day, with a recent TV series of the adventures of Tommy and Tuppence Beresford (Partners in Crime) being broadcast, and numerous re-runs of both Poirot and Miss Marple, along with the discovery of 10 unpublished plays.

John says The Verdict is still full of the classic Christie twists and turns. He said: "The intrigue is all about what happens after the murder.''

The play runs from Wednesday, November 11 to Saturday November 14 from 7.30pm. Tickets are £10, £9 concessions from 07575711522. - Flicky Harrison