The Agatha Christie FestivalL 2023: A coastal crime wave is coming...

Tickets are now on sale for the Agatha Christie Festival, a week-long celebration of the Torquay-born Queen of Crime across the English Riviera 8th through 17th September. Supported with public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, this year's festival opens with an exciting six-day fringe festival followed by a four-day literary festival and includes high profile speakers and performances, as well fun and quirky literary-themed events in unusual places.

Creative Director of the Agatha Christie Festival, Matt Newbury said: “This year we have gone all out to celebrate the remarkable legacy of the world’s most successful crime writer in her place of birth. We have over 40 events on offer designed to appeal to local residents, national and international visitors alike, those who have a deep knowledge and appreciation of Christie’s work and those who want to learn more or simply to enjoy a creative experience in the heritage setting of the Bay”.

Full details of the programme and how to book are available here: www.agathachristiefestival.com

HIGHLIGHTS 

The Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a supergroup of writers who have sold more than 10 million books between them and won almost every major crime-writing award, open the Festival Fringe Programme on Friday, 8th September. Taking place at the Palace Theatre Paignton, for one night only, Val McDermid (vocals), Chris Brookmyre (guitar/vocals), Mark Billingham (guitar/vocals), Luca Veste (bass), Doug Johnstone (drums/vocals), and Stuart Neville (guitar/vocals) will be rocking out on the stage instead of the page.

Following its success last year, organisers are bringing back the Festival Lit Hop, their literary take on a pub crawl, with unexpected performances in venues along the route. For something completely different, Kents Cavern are organising a double bill of Christie classics in what can literally be described as an underground film festival. Meanwhile anyone with a four-legged friend is invited to bring them along to The Wagatha Mystery, which is a unique dog-walking murder mystery in Goodrington where they sniff out the clues and follow the leads.

English Riviera Walking Tours will be offering Agatha Christie-themed strolls throughout the festival, when visitors and residents alike can discover more about the author’s life and inspiration growing up in Torbay. Another fun event taking place in the fresh air is a return of the popular golf mystery which can be solved while playing a round on the Pitch and Putt at Torre Abbey. 

The main literary programme runs across four days from Thursday 14 September in Torre Abbey’s Spanish Barn and various other places across the Bay including Cockington Church, Torquay Museum and Kents Cavern. The packed line-up includes Robert Thorogood (writer of Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise), Ann Cleeves (writer of Vera and Shetland), Ruth Ware (author of The IT Girl and The Turn of the Key) and Sophie Hannah who pens the official Poirot sequels.   

The literary festival will also include Agatha Christie-themed talks covering fashion, the monarchy, collecting books, her relationship with her mother and also her time in America. There will also be an expert panel discussion on Agatha Christie’s best short story that will be broadcast live on the All About Agatha! podcast. And for something really fun, author Kate Jackson will be hosting an interactive talk called How to Survive an Agatha Christie Novel where the audience vote on what to do in a ‘choose your own adventure’ style. 

The festival traditionally takes place around Agatha Christie’s birthday on the 15th September and this year a special event has been planned to mark the big day. The Festival Players will present a rehearsed and costumed reading of Agatha Christie’s ‘lost play’ Towards Zero at the Palace Theatre Paignton, made possible by the generous support of the Colwinston Charitable Trust. It is being directed and introduced by Dr Julius Green, who discovered the missing script in New York in 2014.

Another theatrical treat is Agatha Christie – Her Life in Words and Music, presented by the Unleashed Theatre Company. Taking place at The Royal Lyceum, this brand-new music review will feature narration, vintage period songs and dramatic vinaigrettes. Meanwhile, young people will be able to enjoy Framed!by Paddleboat Theatre Company at Paignton Library. Families can expect a thrilling whodunnit with music, puppetry, musical comedy and more.

This year we will also be marking the epic 70th anniversary of The Mousetrap, with the world’s longest running play visiting Torquay to coincide with the festival. Ahead of the opening night performance, there will be a talk at the theatre about the remarkable history of the play, that includes coffee and cake, followed by a chance to see the play itself.

The Agatha Christie Festival is a registered charity and the programme of events wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of a number of organisations who can see its full value and potential. These include Arts Council England, Agatha Christie Ltd, Torbay Council, The English Riviera BID Company, HarperCollins UK, Wollens, PKF Francis Clark and Lawrence King Publishing.

To find out more and book tickets, visit www.agathachristiefestival.com