Spider's Web

Spider's Web (1954) is a two-act murder mystery by Agatha Christie (1890-1976).

Performance History in South Africa

It was first produced in South Africa by the Johannesburg Reps in 1955, directed and designed by Anthony Farmer with Yolande Turnbull.

In 1980 it was directed by Charles Hickman for Pieter Toerien Productions and staged at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town. The cast consisted of Rex Garner (Sir Rowland Delahaye), Dennis Folbigge (Hugo Birch), Jonathan Rands (Jeremy Warrender), Shelagh Holliday (Clarissa Hailsham-Brown), Janet du Plessis (Pippa Hailsham-Brown), Paddy Canavan (Mildred Peake), Albert Raphael (Elgin, the butler), Nigel Kane (Oliver Costello), Kenneth Baker (Henry Hailsham-Brown), Roger Corfield (Inspector Lord) and Michael Maxwell (Constable Jones). The set was adapted by Mary Field and the costumes were by Noreen Sterling.

Another production by Pieter Toerien opened at the Theatre on the Bay on 12 December 1991. Rex Garner directed and appeared as Sir Rowland Delahaye. The rest of the cast were Kenneth Baker (Hugo Birch), Gary d'Alessandro (Jeremy Warrender), Clare Marshall (Clarissa Hailsham-Brown), Sally Ann Garner (Pippa Hailsham-Brown), Tammy Bonell (Mildred Peake), Mike McDonnell (Elgin, the butler), Rick Rogers (Oliver Costello), Mike Tompson (Henry Hailsham-Brown), Eckard Rabe (Inspector Lord) and Peter Noble (Canstable Jones). Lighting design by Jannie Swanepoel, set design by Anne Carghill, costumes by Colleen Moabelo.

Programme notes

Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987).

Spider's Web theatre programme, 1991.

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