COLD Theatre 7, a pioneering force in Sri Lankan theatre, is set to captivate audiences once again with a riveting production of Agatha Christie’s timeless murder mystery that will leave the audience at the edge of their seat. ‘And Then There Were None’ hits the stage this May directed by the talented Kevin Cruze and with an original music score composed by Hirushan Maddumaarachchi. 

The brainchild of thespian Kevin Cruze, COLD Theatre 7 (CT7) was founded in 2013 in a little café by seven equally enthusiastic theatre lovers and has since carved a name for itself as a reputed theatre company in Sri Lanka.  With a penchant for murder mysteries, CT7’s first production was to stage Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’ in 2013 at the British School in Colombo, which was a theatrical success.  Since then, CT7 has staged over 8 productions, including Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ and the courtroom drama thriller ‘Witness for the Prosecution’.  Celebrating 10 years after its debut production, CT7 is bringing back this beloved classic, now to the Lionel Wendt Theatre, with a fresh new ensemble. 

Set against the backdrop of a secluded island retreat, a group of ten strangers discover mysterious machinations set into murderous motions when their eccentric millionaire host goes missing. Stranded on the island, haunted by clue-filled nursery rhymes, one by one, the guests begin to meet gruesome and untimely ends. Who among them is the killer? With each passing moment, suspicion mounts and every guest is a suspect.

A personal fan of Christie and murder mysteries, director Kevin Cruze hails And Then There Were None as ‘one of her best plays’. “I’ve read quite a few Agatha Christie plays and I’ve even staged a few of her plays myself and without a doubt, this murder mystery is right on top. It has what it takes to keep the audience at the edge of their seats and keep them guessing right from the start.” 

This year’s production of And Then There Were None is brought to the stage by a talented ensemble cast starring Milinda Randeniya, Dulika Jayamanne, Niren Ranasinghe, Abbas Rozais, Amesh de Silva, Melanie Bibile, Wasaam Ismail, Michelle Herft, Tharusha Kumarasinghe, Taasha de Silva, and Reihan Stephen.  “The cast is brilliant,” adds Cruze, “they are people I’ve worked with over the years and a few new faces I’m excited to work with, including lead actress Michelle Herft who I’ve known for a long time but I’m working with for the first time. We have had a lot of fun putting this together so I’m excited to get them on board and stage this in May for the audience.” 

With a stellar cast and a gripping plot, mark your calendars for the world’s best-selling mystery novel on stage this May.  “If you love Christie’s stories and you love a good murder mystery – then you need to head to the Wendt.” 

Catch the murder, mystery and mayhem at the Lionel Wendt Theatre 10,11 and 12 May 2024 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, 7.30 pm onwards. Tickets are available for purchase by contacting CT7 via WhatsApp at +94 77 757 8348.  For further updates and more information, follow COLD Theatre 7 on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.coldtheatre7.com. 

This amateur production of “And Then There Were None” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd (www.concordtheatricals.co.uk). 

Pictures by Waruna Wanniarachchi