Coles's Murder Before Evensong reviewed at Watermill theatre — SkimNews
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- Watermill theatre in Newbury is hosting a stage adaptation of Rev Richard Coles's village mystery novel Murder Before Evensong
- Ian Hallard plays the detecting rector in what the review calls a "thoughtful adaptation"
- The review notes the production "sometimes strains" under a "villageful of suspects, victims and doubling actors"
- The piece positions the show alongside recent stage outings for Poirot, Marple, Rebus, Barnaby and Grace, framing it as the latest literary sleuth to investigate on stage
Why it matters: Hallard's central turn anchors the adaptation, but the reviewer's strain warning suggests the Watermill's intimate staging exposes the limits of Coles's sprawling village cast — a practical question for any small venue taking on a multi-suspect whodunit.
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