Cast change in York Theatre Royal premiere production of Murder, Margaret and Me
17 Feb – 4 March, Press night Wed 22 Feb, 7.30pm
York-based actress Andrina Carroll joins Nichola McAuliffe and Susie Blake in the premiere production of comedy thriller Murder, Margaret and Me by Philip Meeks at York Theatre Royal from 17 February to 4 March.
She will play The Spinster, replacing Indira Joshi, who has left the production for personal reasons. The character narrates and leads the story, while bearing a certain resemblance to the legendary sleuth Miss Marple.
Andrina’s previous appearances at York Theatre Royal include Mother in The Railway Children, Forty Years On, Peter Pan, The Crucible, Brassed Off, Educating Rita and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Director Damian Cruden said: “It’s sad to lose Indira, she is very talented and had already brought much to the process. Consequently it is a joy to welcome Andrina to the company. I have worked with her on many projects and know she will be great in this role.”
Andrina said: “I’m thrilled to be back at the Theatre Royal working with Damian and a great company in a fantastic part at a theatre where I’ve done a lot of exciting work in the past.”
Murder, Margaret and Me explores the relationship between Queen of Crime Agatha Christie and the acting legend known as ‘the funniest woman alive’ Margaret Rutherford. In the early 1960s these two strong national treasures were the creative force behind one of British cinema’s most successful franchises but the Miss Marple films were almost never made. Christie didn’t want Rutherford to bring her fabled spinster to life and Rutherford was mortified at the prospect of sullying her reputation with something as sordid as murder.
The pair form an unlikely friendship filled with afternoon tea and gossip. Meanwhile Agatha turns detective herself as she becomes determined to unearth Rutherford’s tragic and shocking secret.
Murder, Margaret and Me is written by Philip Meeks and will be directed by York Theatre Royal Artistic Director Damian Cruden and designed by Dawn Allsopp.
Nichola McAuliffe (Agatha Christie) has won a number of awards, including the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Musical for Kiss Me Kate. No stranger to York, she has also appeared in Blithe Spirit at York Theatre Royal working with director Damian Cruden. Nichola recently appeared on television in ITV’s lavish series Victoria as the Duchess of Cumberland, but many will remember her as Sheila from seven series of Granada’s comedy Surgical Spirit.
Susie Blake (Margaret Rutherford) has taken stage roles ranging from Madam Morrible in Wicked in London’s West End to various Alan Ayckbourn productions at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre. She is well-known for one of her early television roles as the sarcastic continuity announcer on Victoria Wood As Seen On TV in the 1980s, and also appeared recently in Coronation Street from 2004 – 2006 as Bev, a role she reprised in 2015 following the death of Anne Kirkbride who played Deirdre Barlow.
Andrina Carroll (The Spinster) has worked extensively in theatre, film and television. As well as numerous roles at York Theatre Royal, theatre credits include One Last Waltz (Black Coffee Theatre), Beautiful Thing (Pilot Theatre), A Game of Golf, One Man Protest, Affairs in a Tent, Enjoy, The Nutcracker and When We Are Married (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Romeo and Juliet, Hobson’s Choice, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Accrington Pals, The Bright and Bold Design and Twelfth Night (New Victoria Theatre), Oliver Twist, Twelfth Night and September in the Rain (Hull Truck). Television and film credits include The Knife That Killed Me, Between Two Women and reprising her role as Mother for a feature film taping of the Theatre Royal’s The Railway Children – Stage to Screen.
This production forms part of a year-long programme of work put together by an all-female panel which aims to redress the imbalance in women’s roles in both theatrical work and the industry as a whole. These productions, events and activities will run alongside York Theatre Royal’s spring and autumn 2017 seasons.
Tickets for Murder, Margaret and Me are on sale now priced £30 – £12 (£1.50 transaction fee per booking) from York Theatre Royal box office in person, by phone on 01904 623568 and securely online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.