The Kamloops Players Society is taking center stage from Nov. 25 until Nov. 29, with their rendition of Agatha Christie’s classic courtroom drama Witness for the Prosecution. This immersive experience will take place at the historic Old Courthouse where audience members will bear witness to the twists and turns of an investigation into an heiress’ untimely death. The Omega met with the play’s producer, Katrina Andreson, who described how the play came to life.
Witness for the Prosecution was originally published as a short story, titled Traitor’s Hands in 1925, and was authored by the highly acclaimed British author, Agatha Christie. The mystery is the most widely-adapted and best known piece of the late author’s work. In fact, the mystery was later adapted as a stage play and then a film on the silver screen to great success.
“This is my first experience with an Agatha Christie story, and I’m really impressed by the clever twists, and all the suspense. I love mysteries and crime shows, so [the story] is super interesting to me,” Andreson said. “The inspiration for this show came from directors [Emma Davis and Etella Keenan] who went to school in Wales, UK. While they were there, they decided to go see the London production of the play, which was held in a former council chamber designed to look like a real courtroom. They were so impressed by the way the story was told, and the experience of being in the jury box that they knew this was a show they wanted to direct someday.”
The Kamloops Players Society once called the Pavilion Theater home, but after the COVID-19 pandemic and a disastrous flood that ruined costumes and props, the organization has struggled to find a space of their own.
“We typically perform at the Pavilion Theater, but with the Effie closing recently, they were completely booked by the time we were ready to produce the show. We came really close to having to wait until next fall, because we weren’t sure if the Courthouse was going to be available to us either. We can’t wait to return to the Pavilion this spring, for our Spring into Comedy, but we are also very grateful to the City for having this amazing rental space available to us.”
Though the story originated ‘across the pond’, the Kamloops Players Society brings a local Kamloops touch to their rendition, partnering with several restaurants across town who will be offering Witness for the Prosecution themed-drinks.
“We are unable to offer concessions at the [Old Courthouse], like we would be able to at the Pavilion,” Andreson said. “We have partnered with five local restaurants: Brownstone, Mittz Kitchen, TABLE twelvefifty, Manila Social and Embers Brewhouse, to add a special drink to each of their menus that is themed after the show during the week. We encourage patrons to support local business and make a night out of it by checking out our partners before the show!”
The stageplay is almost entirely composed of Kamloopsian talent, with some actors coming from the TRU theatre program, and some fresh new faces on their debut performances. “We’re also using a lot of first-time actors. This will be their first time either with the Kamloops Players, or professionally outside of school. Some of the actors are drama teachers, returning to the stage for the first time in a while, so I think the people are really what makes this rendition special too. Everyone from this production lives in Kamloops or nearby, it’s fully put on by volunteers who are just in it for the love of theatre,” Andreson said.
The tale investigates the murder of Emily French, an elderly and wealthy spinster whose death’s suspicions fall on the shoulders of Leonard Vole. According to speculation, Vole only recently had made the acquaintance of the late heiress who had apparently been in perfect health prior to her death, only adding murderous suspicion. The investigation is facilitated by the solicitor of the defendant, Mr. Mayherne, who contends that Vole is innocent despite the accounts of witnesses and town-folk who seek to see him executed. “We start off in the defense lawyers chambers while [Vole] is on the stand. Then we follow him into the courtroom when we hear testimony from multiple witnesses and see evidence for the crime. The jury decides whether they think Vole is innocent or guilty,” Andreson said.
Directed by Emma Davis and Etella Keenan, and produced by local Kamloopsian, Andreson, this rendition of Christie’s popular mystery will give audience members a performance full of twists, turns, and even the chance to be a member of the jury with upgraded seats on-stage. “[Audience members] can join the jury where lawyers will be directly looking and interacting with you,” Andreson said. “It’s a really immersive experience and the jury will even get to cast a vote on whether you think [Vole] is guilty or not.”
The show is highly anticipated and has since seen the jury box entirely sold-out. You can secure your tickets for this immersive experience here.