"And The There Were None" by Agatha Christie.

Nottingham New Theatre.

Christie's classic murder mystery thriller is performed extremely well by this group of actors, and I must admit, being a Christie fan, I was impressed to start with that director, James Fox is also a fan of the thriller writer and genre, and chose this particular play.

What is also impressive is that this is James's directorial debut.

A group of people are lured into coming to a deserted island under different pretexts. All have been accused of the deaths of other human beings, but either escaped justice or committed an act that was not subject to legal sanction.The guests and two servants who are present are "charged" with their respective "crimes" by a gramophone recording after dinner the first night, and informed that they have been brought to the island to pay for their actions.

All ten are killed in turn, each in a manner that seems to parallel the deaths in the nursery rhyme. But if there were ten guests and ten deaths, then who is the killer if there's no one on the island but them?

A very strong cast consisting of James Roscow (Tom Rogers), Izzy Miles (Ethel Rogers), NNT newcomer Roberto Loza (Narracott), Niamh Caines (Vera Claythorne), Harry Pavlou (Lombard), Jeremy Dunn (Marston), Omid Faramar (Blore), Max Miller (MacKenzie), Charlotte Sanders (Emily Brent) and Gary Berezin (Dr Armstrong) present a tension packed programme, greatly appreciated by the very busy audience on Thursday night.

A brilliant set design by Ollie Short and some excellent light and sound design. The lighting also designed by James Fox. The technical crew, including producer Joe Strickland, were as important in creating the atmosphere with a wonderful creeping sound scape and evocative lighting.

The attention to detail is also one to watch and it's the little things in this production that just added that little extra for me. When the doctor and Lombard came in from the rain, their clothes were wet and the time checks given were actually accurate. it was if the play was being carried out in real time, even though it spanned two days, well you know what I mean by that.

Great costumes, hair and make up by Laura Jayne Bateman and Lydia Smith respectively, and I don't know if the cast had a voice coach but the accents were very good indeed.

Another cracking presentation at the Nottingham New Theatre by yet another intelligent and articulate cast, and I for one can't wait for the next one.

"And Then There Were None" is being performed until Saturday 11 June in the evening. so still time to find out whodunnit!!

Oh and if you want to know who did do it, it was..........................