to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
The Agatha Christie Festival is a week-long celebration of the Torquay-born Queen of Crime across the English Riviera, which always coincides with the author’s birthday on 15th September. 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 as fun and quirky literary-themed events in unusual places.
To save your little grey cells, we’ve put together our top suggestions for events we think it would be a crime to miss out on.
1. THE FUN LOVIN’ CRIME WRITERS
Opening this year’s festival are The Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a supergroup made up of crime writers who have sold more than 10 million books between them. 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 killing it on the stage instead of the page. In between the killer hits, they will also be signing copies of their latest books.
2. THE MOUSETRAP 70TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
The world’s longest-running play, The Mousetrap turns 70 this year, and the touring production will be visiting the Princess Theatre in Torquay for the week of the festival. As news spreads of a murder in London, a group of seven strangers find themselves snowed in at a remote countryside guesthouse. When a police sergeant arrives, the guests discover – to their horror – that a killer is in their midst! Can you solve this world-famous mystery for yourself?
3. WALKING IN AGATHA CHRISTIE’S FOOTSTEPS
Join your brilliant tour guide Graham from English Riviera Walking Tours for Walking in Agatha Christie’s Footsteps, an award-winning walking tour that tells the story of Agatha’s extraordinary life. Guests will be enthralled to listen to her years growing up in Torquay, how she met her first husband and her work as a nurse during World War 1. You will also discover how the local area inspired some of her legendary characters and plots, whilst exploring the beautiful seafront area of Torquay.
4. FRAMED!
Award-winning PaddleBoat Theatre presents Framed!, a murder mystery theatre experience for children aged 8+ and families. The legendary detective Rufus Caper has been framed and needs your help to uncover the truth in this thrilling family whodunnit featuring music, puppetry, physical comedy and more. Come and help them catch the clues and spot the suspects before Rufus goes down for a crime he didn’t commit!
5. THE WAGATHA MYSTERY
In what might be the most unusual event of the whole festival, dog owners are invited to bring their four-legged friends to help them solve a the Wagatha Mystery around Young’s Park in Paignton. Featuring actors from Moonstone Theatre Company, you are encouraged to follow the leads, sniff out the suspects and collar the culprits. And there’s bound to be plenty of dog treats as rewards along the route…
6. UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL
Kents Cavern is hosting a unique underground film festival in the caves, with a double bill of Agatha Christie Classics. The caves were the inspiration for Hampsly Cavern in The Man in the Brown Suit, so they make both an appropriate and very atmospheric venue to enjoy all-star Poirot classics, Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and Death on the Nile (1978). You’ll enjoy the films while sitting on deckchairs, and you’ll definitely want to take advantage of the Cave Bar.
7. TOWARDS ZERO
To mark Agatha Christie’s birthday on 15th September, there will be a rehearsed and costumed reading of Agatha Christie’s ‘lost play’ Towards Zero at the Palace Theatre, Paignton. Directed and introduced by Dr. Julius Green, who rediscovered the play in New York in 2014, the play will be read by the Festival Players, whose members include both professional actors (including former members of the Agatha Christie Theatre Company) and performers from Torquay’s own amateur companies.
8. GOLFING MYSTERY
For another completely unique event, don’t miss this Golfing Mystery taking place on the Pitch and Putt green on Torre Abbey Meadows, which can be solved while you play a round of golf. There are clues to be found across the green, with prizes awarded for the first detective to solve the crime, the best golf score, and the best golf attire (but no heels on the golf course, please). Aimed at casual Christie fans and amateur golfers, no in-depth knowledge of her life or works is required.
9. VIDEO GAME PODS
Festival attendees will be able to sample two brand-new Agatha Christie video games for free at the festival. Hercule Poirot: The London Case sees the Belgian detective and his beloved sidekick Arthur Hastings in an original adventure involving a priceless piece of art, while Murder on the Orient Express brings the classic tale to life in a way that will surprise even the most dedicated fan. Pods will be set up at Paignton Library on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th September and in the Medieval Undercroft at Torre Abbey on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17 September.
10. THE LITERARY FESTIVAL
The four-day core literary festival takes place in the Spanish Barn at Torre Abbey, as well as some more unusual places including Cockington Church. On the lineup are Robert Thorogood, writer of Death in Paradise, Ann Cleeves, writer of Vera and Shetland, Ruth Ware, author of The IT Girl and Sophie Hannah, the official author of the Poirot sequels. There are also talks entitled Mysterious Affairs with Style, Agatha Christie on Stage, Agatha Christie at Home, Christie on the Shelf and How to Survive an Agatha Christie Novel.
Related
The programme can be viewed by carrying out a diary search via www.englishriviera.co.uk/whats-on and on The Agatha Christie Festival website www.iacf-uk.org (available shortly). Agatha Christie is Torquay's most well-known resident and the best selling author of all time. Every year Torquay celebrates the life and work of its most famous resident with a Festival, supported by the Arts Council of England, and this year is no exception. Over 10 days, packed with expert speakers and other features, the International Agatha Chrisite Festival will celebrate Agatha Christie and her astonishingly rich and diverse legacy.
The Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers: This crime-writing super-group will be opening the Agatha Christie Festival 2023 at The Palace, performing a roof-removing set of killer tunes. Between them Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre, Mark Billingham, Luca Veste, Doug Johnstone, and Stuart Neville have sold over 20 million books worldwide and won every major crime-writing award. Now they’re rocking out on the stage instead of the page. Murder on the dancefloor is guaranteed… An international Agatha Christie Event Visit www.agathachristiefestival.com for the full programme of events.
This event is part of the English Riviera Walking Festival. This corner of the English Riviera held a very special place in Agatha’s heart This breathtaking route takes guests to Elberry Cove, one of Agatha’s favourite beaches with its renowned aqua blue waters. From here, we walk to Churston church, a place where Agatha regularly worshipped, past Churston Court where Agatha often dined with Lord Churston after the service and via Churston train station (ABC Murders). Through Galmpton village, we follow the beautiful Dart estuary and arrive at Greenway, Agatha’s summer home (Five Little Pigs, Ordeal by Innocence and Dead Man’s Folly) before catching a ferry to Dartmouth on the River Dart, one of the most scenic rivers in Britain.
Rufus finds himself in a tricky situation and needs your help to uncover the truth! PaddleBoat Theatre Company presents a thrilling family whodunnit with their distinctive fingerprints all over it! Expect music, puppetry, clowning and more. Come and help us catch the clues and spot the suspects before Rufus goes down for a crime he didn't commit! Commissioned by The Agatha Christie Festival, created and performed by PaddleBoat Theatre, Framed! debuted at the Agatha Christie Festival in 2022 with the support of Arts Council England and the Colwinston Charitable Trust. Suitable for children 8+ and families 55 mins (No Interval) | Tickets: £4.00 Child; £7.00 Adult
Join us for a unique dog walking murder mystery, courtesy of Moonstone Theatre Company The Devon Constabulary need the help of a team of sleuthhounds who can sniff out the answer to an intriguing Murder Mystery. In the late summer of 1935, a body has been found on the beach, done to death by a choke chain found at the scene. Colonel Anstruther, retired from the Army and now a local Magistrate, had been walking his bulldog, Kitchener, when he was struck down. Who could have done such a thing and why? Bring your tracker dogs and follow the scent in the steps of the Colonel. On the way you will meet the suspects in the case and hear their story. All the clues will be there to reach the correct conclusion, but can you collar the culprit by d
Aahhh mateys! Cave Cinema is back, and this time we're joining forces with the Brixham Pirate Festival! Join us for one night only as we show two of the best pirate movies in the South West's only pop-up underground cinema. Fancy dress is encouraged, let's fill the caves with pirates as we delve to the depths of the Caribbean and explore One Eyed Willie's ship! On Friday 3rd May, we're showing 2 classic Pirate-themed movies; The Goonies and Pirates of the Caribbean. Experience Devon's award-winning Event* for yourself and your crew! Our pop-up underground cinema offers a unique experience like no other! Sit back, relax, and watch a movie in a deckchair in Britain's Oldest Home! It's been home to Neanderthals and Ice Age animals
Drift back into the style and opulence of the Jazz Age as you retrace the steps of the world’s best-selling author along Torquay’s seafront.
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