“And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie
Title: “And Then There Were None“
By: Agatha Christie
Role: Director
Venue: Exeter Northcott Theatre
Company: Exeter University Theatre Company
I chose to direct this play for the challenge that it presented me. To balance murders as obscured yet plausible, to balance characters as suspicious but not obvious, and to balance hints with red herrings, took an attention to detail that had never been asked of me before. I’m proud of the production that we created, prouder still to say it is the best work I have done – and soon to be proud that it isn’t the best I’ll do.
Directing a show at the Exeter Northcott Theatre is no small feat, and I couldn’t have done it alone. The entire creative team worked tirelessly to bring the vision to life, and I am thankful to them all for all the work they put into it. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to back me; I wouldn’t change them for the world.
With a phenomenal cast and crew, we were able to summon stunning and striking visuals. From the SFX to the costume, from the lighting to the sound, from the stage to the construction, every part of this production sought – and achieved – a unified goal.
This show will always hold a space in my heart, a milestone in my career I will shamelessly cling to. I am honoured to have had the opportunity, and beyond pleased with the result.
Rationale:
My rationale behind directing this piece was to craft a sense of paranoia in the audience, and focus in on the experience they would have in the theatre. I worked closely with the creative team to produce special effects that would immerse the audience in a realistic setting. Deaths were always plausible
Company:
Cast:
Vera Claythorne – Florence Gunstone
Philip Lombard – Benjamin Davis
Lawrence Wargrave – Ted Turner
William Blore – Aidan Everett
Dr Armstrong – Thomas Taylor
Emily Brent – Beth Williams
General MacKenzie – Lydia Shaw
Mr Rogers – Dylan Williams
Mrs Rogers – Amelia Song
Anthony Marston – Lottie Paterson
Fred Narracott – Georgia Kendall
Creatives & Production Team:
Writer – Agatha Christie
Director – Rudi S Carson
Producer – Rebecca Edmunds
Assistant Director – Tanuvi Dev-Kauffmann
Assistant Producers – Sreenisha Kanchiraju & Emily Golding
Stage Manager – Lola Donlan
Costume Designer – Paige Evans
Technical Managers – Adam Purdy
Lighting Designer – Max Reader
Sound Designers – Jay Roe & Oscar Alltree
“Director Rudi Carson has patently taken care over the production and been determined to put his stamp on it and he has done this very effectively. The first half of the play is quite wordy but he keeps the story moving along well and, as the bodies mount up, the tension grows palpably until the exhilarating and thrilling climax. There is also great attention to the plot, and the careful planning of the removal of the chess pieces indicates thought and consideration.”
– Cormac Richards