PlayMakers Repertory Company
Agatha Christie's
Adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig Directed by Tracy Bersley
A murder mystery gone off the rails
A luxurious train ride comes to a halt when a passenger is found dead. With a murderer on the loose, the passengers of the Orient Express must band together before the body count goes up. All aboard for this fast-paced ride inspired by Agatha Christie’s classic novel.
March 6–24, 2024
Tickets start at $20
Approximately 2 hours plus a 15-minute intermission
Murder on the Orient Express is recommended to patrons 10 and up. Please be aware that adult language and stage violence are present in this production. For more details, please reference our Content Transparency section below.
This production contains haze, simulated gunshots, fake blood and wounds, mature language, stage violence, and references to self-harm and suicide.
Murder on the Orient Express is an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s famous murder mystery novel. The story revolves around a murder that takes place on a train in 1934. The detective Hercule Poirot interrogates passengers of the train to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Patrons should be aware that mature language such as “H*ll,” “D*mn,” “Son of a b*tch,” and “G*d D*mn” are used in this production, as well as references to suicide, and conversations of a previous murder case involving a 5 year-old girl; there is no vivid description of this murder, but it is referenced that “they found her dead murdered in the woods.” Although this production revolves around solving a murder, it is also a fun and thrilling theatrical experience.
Sex, Romance, and Nudity: There is no nudity in this production. There are a few humorous suggestive sexual innuendos. There is a romantic couple who share a few kisses.
Substances: There is no smoking on stage. References and usage of alcohol.
Violence: A passenger on the train harasses another passenger and it ends with a slap. There is a murder that takes place on the train and a brief reenactment once the ending of the mystery is revealed. There is a brief physical altercation towards the end.
“★★★★ A first class ride all the way!”
The Guardian
▶ Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30 PM
▶ Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 PM
▶ Friday, March 8 at 7:30 PM
Previews not only cost less, but they allow you to be among the first audience members to experience Murder on the Orient Express. Previews are the final step in the playmaking process as the directors, designers, cast and crew put the finishing touches on the show as they experience it with an audience for the first time—that’s you! Be an early adopter and earn bragging rights that you saw it first.
▶ Saturday, March 9 at 7:30 PM
Join us for the Opening performance of Murder on the Orient Express followed by a celebration in the lobby with light hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Get your playbill signed, meet the artists, and enjoy the festivities together.
Special Thanks to Pineapple Sol and Glasshalfull
Watch to see what Opening Nights are like at PlayMakers!
Murder on the Orient Express may not be best suited for our younger patrons, but that doesn’t mean they can’t join you. PlayMakers has partnered with Seed Art Share to provide on-site childcare for ages 4-12 with engaging, theatre-based fun while you enjoy the performance.
This performance will feature Open Captioning, allowing you to read along with the dialogue.
Join us after the show for a post-show discussion to talk about the play with members of the Murder on the Orient Express cast. Why is Murder on the Orient Express described by some scholars as Agatha Christie’s American work of detective fiction? In this post-show conversation with Michelle Robinson (associate professor of American Studies and the author of Dreams for Dead Bodies: Blackness, Labor, and the Corpus of American Detective Fiction), we’ll discuss the distinctly American flavor of the mystery, from its hard-boiled inflections to its unusual cast of characters to the news stories that inspired it.
▶ Tuesday, March 19 at 7:30 PM
ASL Interpreters and Audio Description will be available for patrons. For the best view of the ASL Interpreters, please contact the Box Office at 919.962.7529 or prcboxoffice@unc.edu.
PlayMakers and Escape on Purpose are at it again! Join us for an immersive escape room experience before the show begins with your friends and fellow audience members. Do you have what it takes to solve the mystery in time?
Space is limited! You’ll be receiving a link to sign up for your spot two days before your scheduled performance, so make sure to plan your visit with us!
Someone has stolen the Hercule Poirot prop mustache worn by actor Jeffrey Blair Cornell. Will you help Stage Management solve this mystery? Catch up below on our social media mystery game!
Jeffrey Blair Cornell Gives a Passionate Performance as
Hercule Poiret in PRC’s Murder on the Orient Express
Triangle Review
March 7, 2024
Review by Melissa Rooney
All Aboard for Suspense with Ken Ludwig’s
Version of Murder on the Orient Express!
Triangle Review
March 7, 2024
Review by Lillian MacNell
PlayMakers interprets mystery classic through memory and movement
The Daily Tar Heel
March 25, 2024
Review by Lillian MacNell
THEATRE REVIEW: PLAYMAKERS TAKES A TRIP ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Chatham Life & Style
March 13, 2024
Review by Dustin K. Britt
