Witness For the Prosecution
Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: County Hall, London
Cast: Harry Giubileo, Madeleine Walker, Jo Stone-Fewings, Crispin Redman, Nick Sampson and Terence Wilton

Step inside the magnificent surroundings of London County Hall and experience the intensity and drama of Agatha Christie’s gripping story of justice, passion and betrayal in a unique courtroom setting.

Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high - will Leonard survive the shocking witness testimony, will he be able to convince the jury, and you of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose?

One of the most remarkable aspects of this show is the location. Set in the iconic County Hall, it's easy to forget you're not part of a real courtroom trial as the trial of Leonard Vole unfolds before your eyes. The story follows Leonard Vole, a charismatic young man who's been accused of murder. The audience are given the facts of the case, and must determine whether Vole has killed his older lady friend for her money, or is simply an innocent victim in it all. 

Harry Giubileo plays the charming but naïve Leonard Vole brilliantly. He quickly has the audience in the palm of his hands with ease. We're equally suspicious of our two main suspects, Janet Mackenzie, the housekeeper and Romaine Vole, Leonard's wife. Both come across as manipulative, calculated and with their own reasons for murder. Madeleine Walker (Romaine), plays the unlikeable role perfectly. 

However, the star of the show is Jo Stone-Fewings, who plays Sir Wilfrid (Leonard's defence). He has perfectly placed humour throughout the production and you're instantly drawn to him whenever he's on stage, due to such a compelling performance. His acting is nothing short of remarkable. 

Witness For the Prosecution has more twists and turns than a fairground ride, and you'll find yourself doubting characters you once had full faith in, and questioning your judgement. More pieces of the puzzle are slowly fed to the audience; teasing us with just enough information to keep us engaged, but also confused as to who the killer may be.

The show is set in the 1950's, and one of the aspects I love most is that it feels modernised, without losing the essence of the time period. Because of a few subtle changes they've made to this iconic Agatha Christie piece, I think it's much more palatable to a younger audience; in comparison to other Christie plays such as The Mousetrap. These sleek changes mean that all ages can enjoy this production.

The instrumental music interspersed throughout is both whooshing and dramatic, which is perfect for building tension and drama at key moments. There's also the use of gasps and murmurs through the speakers, which also adds to the atmosphere. 

Witness For the Prosecution doesn't just feel like a play, it feels like an immersive piece of theatre. You're right in the middle of the action and can easily forget that you're not part of a real trial happening before your eyes. This show was brilliant the first time I saw it a few years back, and it's still just as fantastic today. The new cast bring something new to each of the characters, and I hope this production is here to stay. 

You can watch the incredible 9th cast of Witness For the Prosecution at County Hall, here.