Drama/ 22 characters, all characters may be any race/ethnicity and gender, doubling possible and encouraged/ Full-Length
Synopsis: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, adapted by Lee Wilson from Agatha Christie’s novel, is set in the tranquil English village of King’s Abbot, primarily at Fernly Park, the estate of the wealthy Roger Ackroyd. The story begins with the mysterious death of Mrs. Ferrars, rumored to have committed suicide after being blackmailed. Soon after, Roger Ackroyd is found murdered in his study. The local doctor, James Sheppard, discovers the body and narrates the events that follow. Sheppard’s sister, Caroline, is a curious and gossip-loving woman who contributes to the village’s speculation about the murder. The famous retired Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, is drawn into the investigation at the request of Flora Ackroyd, Roger’s niece, who is engaged to Ralph Paton, Ackroyd’s adopted son and the primary suspect, who has mysteriously disappeared.
As Poirot delves deeper into the case, he uncovers various secrets among the residents of Fernly Park. These include the housekeeper, Elizabeth Russell, who harbors a hidden connection to Charles Kent, and Ursula Bourne, the parlourmaid secretly married to Ralph Paton. Major Hector Blunt, a friend of Roger Ackroyd, and Geoffrey Raymond, Ackroyd’s secretary, also fall under scrutiny. The butler, John Parker, and Mrs. Ackroyd, the widow of Roger’s brother, add to the complex web of relationships and motives.
Poirot’s investigation reveals a series of deceptions and hidden truths. This adaptation maintains the suspense and drama of Christie’s original work, exploring themes of deception, justice, and the fallibility of perception, while challenging the audience with its narrative innovation and psychological depth.
Amateur and professional rights:
Lee Wilson
wilsonle@tcd.ie
Ph.: 1-289-934-0154 (Ontario, Canada)
About the Playwright: Lee is an Assistant Professor in Acting at The University of Windsor, School of Dramatic Art, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Wilson holds Canadian, British and Irish citizenship.
In 2019, his production of A Fear and Loathing Actor in Dublin by Mark McCauley premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Theatre@36 in Dublin, Ireland. While living in Ireland, he directed the world premieres of Running with Dinosaurs by Nadine Flynn (The New Theatre); The Eurydice Project by Joanna Crawley (The Project Arts Centre Main Space); Fray by Margaret Perry and Pork by Nadine Flynn (Smock Alley); and The Sea Brothers by Padraig Colum/Joanna Crawley (O’Reilly Theatre/The Lir). In addition, his critically acclaimed production of East of Berlin by Hannah Moscovitch played to sold out houses at The Project Arts Centre in 2014/15. Lee was the Associate Director to Joe Dowling on Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge at The Gate Theatre, Dublin for the Dublin Theatre Festival in 2015.
His Canadian work includes being the founding artistic director of Resurgence Theatre Company in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada where he directed critically acclaimed productions of Hamlet, Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet. In 2013, he was nominated by his peers for the Christopher Plummer Fellowship Award for his outstanding contribution to the classics and Shakespeare performance in Canada. This award is administered by the Globe Theatre in England (Globe Centre in Canada) and recognized Lee as one of the most exciting young directors of Shakespeare in his native home of Canada.
His Canadian work includes being one of a handful of directors who participated in the Inaugural Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Directors at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. As part of this program, he was the resident director to Des McAnuff on The Who’s Tommy and The Tempest film and stage production starring Christopher Plummer. Other credits at Stratford include assistant director to Antoni Cimolino on As You Like It and to Leon Rubin on Measure for Measure. He was the apprentice artistic director/artistic associate at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, Canada (2008/2009 season). In 2008, Lee was invited to The Old Vic in London, England to participate in a directing and writing workshop with the Peter Hall Company. He was an Intern Director at the Shaw Festival during the 2005/2006 season in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada; and the Resident Director in the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre Training at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in 2004/2005. In 2003/2004, he was awarded the Urjo Kareda Residency Grant to study directing/artistic direction with Richard Rose at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, Canada. Lee started off his professional career as a member of the Inaugural Soulpepper Training Company studying acting, design, and directing with his mentor Robin Phillips.
Lee is an associate member of ADA (Association of Drama Adjudicators) in Ireland and holds an MFA in Directing from The Lir, Irelands National Academy of Dramatic Art, Trinity College, Dublin; and a BFA in Acting from Ryerson Theatre School, Toronto, Canada.