The Murder of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd  

Where: The Masque, 37 Main Rd, Muizenberg
When: November 3-18, 2023 (scroll down for details of evening and matinees)
Director: Stephan Fourie

Tickets: From R120  
Bookings: Via Quicket https://qkt.io/MurderofRA
Discounted bookings: 10 tickets or more – contact manager@themasque.co.za
The Masque Box Office: Open from 9am to 2pm every Wednesday  

Adaption: Stephan Fourie and Faeron Wheeler- from Agatha Christie’s 1926 novel, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd  
Set design: Robyn Theron
Set engineering: Simon Dutton
Costume design: Marna Wright
Producers: Joint production between The Masque and Cape Town Theatre Company

Thrilling theatre news is The Murder of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd– which will be on from November 3-18, 2023 at The Masque Theatre in Muizenberg. It is a co-production between The Masque and Cape Town Theatre Company. The production has been adapted for the stage from Agatha Christie’s 1926 novel, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Faeron Wheeler and Stephan Fourie. Wheeler is the programming manager at the Masque. Fourie is a key player in Cape Town Theatre Company and is directing The Murder of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Now, here is the thing, they have done an original stage adaption for this production – from Agatha Christie 1926 novel, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.. There is a play, Alibi – a stage adaption of the novel – but this production is new and is NOT Alibi. This production is framed around a play-within-a play. There is a fictional amateur society, staging The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and as the audience, we will see the back-stage shenanigans and all the things that go wrong – lots of intrigue. Stehan Fourie muses that this production is a “love letter to amateur theatre”. Love that. Read on for more:

Agatha Christie’s The Murder of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd becomes a hilarious play-within-a-play at The Masque

Cape Town Theatre Company and The Masque are revitalising the much-loved tradition of Agatha Christie at the theatre. This time round however, things are not quite what they seem to be!

The Murder of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd follows a fictional amateur society (who are really keen and committed), and their attempt to stage this iconic masterpiece. Attempt being the operative word, for things quickly go awry, with hilarious consequences.

Presented by Cape Town Theatre Company and The Masque, The Murder of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, will be performed from November 3 until 18, 2023, at The Masque. Bookings can be made via Quicket. The Murder of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, directed by Stephan Fourie, is brought to you by the same team from CTTC who presented the sold-out run of The Great Gatsby at The Star Theatre last year. From The Masque’s side, the team has producer Faeron Wheeler on board, who was responsible for bringing Sleeping Beauty and Twelfth Night to the stage.

The audience is guaranteed to be clutching at their sides as Hercule Poirot, Dr Sheppard and the residents of Fernley Park investigate the murder of the extremely wealthy, Roger Ackroyd. While the characters try to answer the question of whodunit, the actors are hoping to just get to the end of the play alive.

This is a particularly perfect production to kick off our summer season,” says Faeron Wheeler, programming manager of The Masque.  “The Murder of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a love letter to community theatre, a play-within-a-play, where the hapless actors are pushing the boundaries of what human tenacity can overcome and achieve!

Director Stephan Fourie says, ‘This show promises to stay true to the exciting twists and turns of a typical Agatha Christie, while disrupting everything you know about theatre in a riotous montage! It is a tribute to the tireless contributions of those in community theatre, who adore this wonderful community. It is a fabulous tonic for anyone in need of a good laugh!”

Joint production between two community societies

The production is adapted for stage byStephan Fourie and Faeron Wheeler, with set design by Robyn Theron, set engineering by Simon Dutton and costume design by Marna Wright. It is a joint production between two community societies – The Masque and Cape Town Theatre Company.

More than 60 years old, The Masque is an iconic venue in the Cape Town cultural landscape. A unique and historic space, it has been home to many community theatre societies over the years and was established by local attorney Bertie Stern with the objective of encouraging voluntary participation in all forms of theatre by all people. Continuing its work into the post-Covid-19 era, The Masque seeks to present high-quality amateur theatre productions, providing a service of artistic engagement with the local community, celebrating diversity and building on the Theatre’s reputation as a sought-after professional venue-for-hire.

Cape Town Theatre Company

Cape Town Theatre Company is one of Cape Town’s most prolific creators of theatre within the mother city. In the Company’s short three-year existence, the company has already created ground-breaking work, ranging from musical theatre to original plays. Some of its most successful projects include The Great Gatsby and The Secret Garden at the Star Theatre, Hairspray at The Baxter, A Picture of Dorian Gray, A Boarding Line and This Moment at The Masque, as well as well as a host of musical revues.

The Masque

More than 60 years old, The Masque is an iconic venue in the Cape Town cultural landscape. A unique and historic space, it has been home to many amateur theatre societies over the years and was established by local attorney Bertie Stern with the objective of encouraging voluntary participation in all forms of theatre by all people.

Stern had a vision to provide a platform for both amateur and professional performers regardless of their social or political situation at that time. When The Masque opened, it was one of the only theatres in Cape Town that was open to people of all ethnic backgrounds.

A registered Non-Profit Organisation, The Masque strives to make theatre accessible to all – onstage, backstage and for the audience. Run by volunteers with a focus on community, the theatre showcases all genres of performance and is as widely inclusive as possible. The Masque is wheelchair friendly, has a fully licensed bar and snacks are available before shows and during intervals.

In 1993 Bertie bequeathed The Masque into trust for the benefit and growth of community theatre. The theatre was totally destroyed by fire in 1997 and it took two years to rebuild (thanks largely to the generosity of the late Joan St Leger-Lindbergh).  The Theatre is still owned by the Stern Masque Theatre Trust and is managed by a board of volunteers.

At the helm of the operation is a team with professional theatre experience. Continuing its work into the post-Covid-19 era, The Masque seeks to present high-quality amateur theatre productions, providing a service of artistic engagement with the local community, celebrating diversity and  building on the Theatre’s reputation as a sought-after professional venue-for-hire.

The Cape Town Theatre Company

Cape Town Theatre Company is one of Cape Town’s most prolific creators of theatre within the mother city, and is thrilled to produce the iconic Agatha Christie alongside Cape Town’s premier community theatre, The Masque. In its short three year existence, the company has already created ground-breaking work, ranging from musical theatre to original plays. Some of its most successful projects include The Great Gatsby and The Secret Garden at the Star Theatre, Hairspray at The Baxter, A Picture of Dorian Gray, A Boarding Line and This Moment at The Masque, as well as well as a host of musical revues.

Cape Town Theatre Company was founded with a single purpose in mind: to create quality theatre for amateur players and theatre-goers, while being accessible to all. Driven by a team comprised of seasoned thespians and theatre-makers alike, the Cape Town Theatre Company endeavours to create memorable works on and off stage that uplift and empower their performers. They aim to create truly unique experiences from drawing board to final performance and a smattering of opportunities for budding theatre enthusiasts of any skill and experience level. Spanning over the greater Cape peninsula, from Sea Point to Somerset West, the society intends to present a diverse annual season of exceptional calibre while building and nurturing a close-knit community for its players.

The company prides itself on its diverse collaborations with other community based organisations, making the latest outing alongside The Masque another jewel in its repertoire.

Director – Stephan Fourie

Stephan is a Cape Town based designer and event curator. His company, Curated Event, is the leading supplier of napery for the South African event industry. He is a frequent contributor to the world of community theatre. Whether wearing the hat of producer, director, designer or actor, he’s just happy to be included.

Director’s note:

Agatha Christie’s iconic 1926 novel was the first of her works to be adapted for the stage. Her third novel featuring the illustrious Hercule Poirot, this work was a true pioneer in the world of crime story telling. Christie was no stranger to innovation and studies of the human condition, and it seemed like a fitting place to start our story. The source material created by this ground-breaking author is layered with intelligent humour, so the only logical adaptation was looking at how we can present the work through today’s lens, with an added layer of absurdity. 

This love letter to amateur theatre uses a cast of some of the best actors that I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. They nurture the original work, while pushing the boundaries of what human tenacity can overcome and achieve. It is their earnest portrayal of these helpless actors that makes this piece the hilarious production that it is.

This show promises to stay true to the exciting twists and turns of a typical Agatha Christie, while promising to disrupt everything you know about theatre in a riotous montage. Stephan Fourie, Director

Performance schedule

The Murder of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd will be performed from November 3 until 18, 2023 at The Masque.

Performances are on:

November 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17 and 18 at 19h30

Matinees at 14h30 on November 4, 5, 11, 12 and 18 

Tickets cost from R120

Bookings can be made at Quicket https://qkt.io/MurderofRA

Booking information:

For discounted block bookings of more than 10 tickets – please contact manager@themasque.co.za The Masque Box Office is open from 9am to 2pm every Wednesday.

Venue info

Cash bar and simple snacks are available for sale at the Theatre.

The Masque is situated at 37 Main Rd, Muizenberg, Cape Town, 7950, South Africa.

Parking is available at the venue.  Wheelchair Access and Facilities available.

The Masque has a back-up generator so the show will go on, even when there is load shedding.

Masque community

Join The Masque community. Become a member and have your say in the theatre. You can also sign up as a volunteer to participate on stage or behind the scenes, from stage management to archiving the wardrobe department!

Join the conversation on social media:  

The Masque  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masquetheatresa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masquetheatresa/
Website: www.themasque.co.za
 

Cape Town Theatre Company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capetowntheatreco/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/capetowntheatrecompany?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Website: http://capetowntheatrecompany.org/
   

✳F eatured image: The cast of The Murder of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Nov 3-18, 2023 at The Masque in Muizenberg. Photo by Martin Kluge. Sponsored content.