'I'll see you in court!' could be heard across the concourse of Waterloo station as I greeted one of my oldest friends last weekend to see a play I've been dying to see for ages - Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution live in a courtroom setting in the heart of London. It doesn't get much more exciting than that! And upon entering the grand building located on the South Bank, above the London Aquarium, my excitement levels only rose. It really is a stunning setting, originally built to host meetings of the now disbanded Greater London Council, the room boasts the splendour of There are several options for seating - in the main seating forming a semi circle around the central stage, elevated up in the press gallery on either side of the room or, if you really fancy pushing the boat out, you can sit in the jury seats next to the main bench and really immersive yourself in the experience - you get sworn in, deliberate and the jury foreman even reads out the verdict during the play. My seat was up close in the second row facing the judge. A really excellent view to take in the drama but I think one row further back would be the optimal position to avoid having slight neck ache due to looking up at the actors during the scenes taking place in the centre of the stage.
You are probably familiar with Christie’s famous story of Leonard Vole - a young man who befriends a rich old lady and stands to inherit her wealth when she dies unexpectedly. He is the obvious suspect and pleads his innocence in court. His wife, Romaine, turns against him and gives evidence for the prosecution. But who is telling the truth? Could Romaine be lying or is it all some kind of complex plan to prove Leonard’s innocence? It was quite amazing how the set and lighting flexed and the exceptional actors used the full room to create scenes set outside of the court room. It felt like being in the middle of the action rather than watching from an audience. An amazing experience I highly recommend to all. And is Leonard guilty? Well it’s up to the jury so you decide!
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Welcome!Artist, Baker and Blogger. Mum to my two beautiful, cheeky girls. Muddling my way through parenthood with equally cheeky Husband. Categories
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