Black Coffee
Click here if you liked this article 193 
Date Reviewed: 21/08/2026
If you enjoy a good old-fashioned murder mystery, then Black Coffee is definitely worth seeing. Presented by Hunters Hill Theatre Company this production brings all the familiar ingredients of a classic Agatha Christie mystery together — a suspicious group of characters, secrets, plenty of tension and, of course, a murder that leaves everyone wondering who is responsible.
What I particularly enjoyed about Black Coffee was the suspense. There is something really enjoyable about sitting back and watching a story unfold where everyone seems to have something to hide. Agatha Christie was brilliant at creating characters who you are never quite sure you can trust, and this play certainly keeps you guessing. Just when you think you have worked out what is going on, another little twist makes you question your theory.
The cast did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life, most notably was Ross Alexander as Hercule Poirot, Julian Hall as Dr Carelli, Thomas Southwell as Richard Amory and Christine Rule as Aunt Caroline Amory.
Along with the talents of Annalie Hamilton as Barbara Amory, Rodney Stewart as Inspector Japp, Sam McAllery as Raynor, Graham Egan as Sir Claud Amory, Chris Long as Tredwell/Constable Johnson and Emma LeBeuf as Lucia Amory.
The show is directed by Michael Richmond.
There was a good balance between the more serious moments and some lighter touches of humour, which kept the play entertaining without taking away from the mystery. The dialogue has that wonderfully old-fashioned Agatha Christie feel to it, and I really enjoyed the style of the production.
The set captures the atmosphere and autheticity of a classic 1930's English country estate. Creating the perfect backdrop for the intrigued and mystery to develop.
The production being at Ryde RSL Club also makes for a very relaxed and enjoyable night out. It is a nice change from going to a large theatre, and the more intimate atmosphere makes you feel much more involved in what is happening on stage. You can really sit back, enjoy the performance and soak up the mystery.
I also loved the fact that Black Coffee doesn't rely on flashy effects to keep your attention. It is the story, the characters and the performances that do the work, which is exactly what you want from an Agatha Christie play.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Black Coffee. It is clever, entertaining and has enough twists and suspicious characters to keep you guessing right through to the end. If you love murder mysteries, Agatha Christie, or simply want an enjoyable night of live theatre, I would definitely recommend seeing this production, the cast are just delightful. Just don't be too confident that you've worked out who the murderer is — you might be surprised!
Reviewed by Genna Merrin