Sold-Out Hit Returns: Murder On The Orient Express Back On Stage Feb 2026
Now, due to overwhelming demand, audiences will have a second chance to climb aboard the world's most infamous train. The return season of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig, will play at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 7 – 15 February 2026.
Tickets are on sale now. All aboard – again!
Directed by acclaimed theatre-maker Shane Bosher, this spectacular production plunges audiences into the glamorous and dangerous world of 1930s Europe. With its full-throttle mix of intrigue, danger, rich period detail and sharp humour, the show has struck a chord with Auckland theatregoers and critics.
'Murder on the Orient Express is a delightful piece of entertainment, two hours of pure escapism produced to the highest quality, and the exact type of blockbuster-esque theatre it would be great to see more of.' – NZ Herald
'With a set that dazzles, a cast that delights, and direction that keeps things snappy — providing everything right there on the stage." - Blackguard Media Reviews
"This Murder on the Orient Express manages to get the balance of the story just right, paying homage to the brilliance of Agatha Christie while expertly using comedy and a light-hearted irreverence to create a crackingly good whodunnit." - Andrew Whiteside
"…pure, unadulterated entertainment." - NZ Arts Review
"A madcap romp of a whodunnit full of red herrings, high drama and hijinks; escalating to a very Agatha Christie climax." - Red Raven
The production features a killer cast led by the iconic Cameron Rhodes as Hercule Poirot, joined by an ensemble of Aotearoa's finest: Rima Te Wiata, Jennifer Ludlam, Mirabai Pease, Sophie Henderson, and Bronwyn Ensor, with Mayen Mehta, Ryan O'Kane, Jordan Selwyn and Edwin Wright rounding out the lineup of suspects.
Agatha Christie's masterpiece remains one of the greatest whodunnits ever written – a locked-room mystery packed with unforgettable characters, jaw-dropping twists, and exquisite suspense. And in this sumptuous production, every detail – from the train carriages to the costuming – is a ticket to another era.
This return season invites both first-time sleuths and returning fans to experience the theatrical event everyone's talking about. Whether you've solved the mystery or not, you'll want to be part of the conspiracy.
DON'T MISS THE RETURN OF A SELL-OUT SMASH AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsroom
3 days ago
- Newsroom
New NZ play gives life to the author behind Frankenstein
It has been over 200 years since an 18-year-old Mary Shelley responded to a literary challenge from her peers by writing the novel 'Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'. In that time, new genres have been born and become staples of our modern culture. Many of them have that pivotal moment in the history of literature to thank for it. Now, a new play explores the life of the woman behind the pen, while fictionalising the night that Frankenstein was born. 'Mary: The Birth of Frankenstein' is set in the dire Geneva summer where the mother of gothic horror did her best work. The production examines the fascinating real life of the woman herself and the many tragedies and hardships that shaped her and her work. Screenwriter Jess Sayer has been preparing for the release for several years. 'As a writer I was really fascinated by the period of time she was creating Frankenstein in and what that must have been like as a woman,' she tells The Detail. Frankenstein spoke to Jess like nothing else and inspired her to write a gothic horror story of her own, with Mary herself as the main character. It's a love letter to the genre she is credited with inventing. 'There's something about it that just sticks with us and obsesses us.' Directed by Oliver Driver, the play compresses the summer of 1816 into one night and injects the supernatural into the period. As for how or what exactly, you'll have to watch it and see. Though, bringing the supernatural to Mary Shelley's life is not as much of a leap as you would probably think. Along with being disowned by her father and tragically losing several children, Shelley's life was surrounded by the mysterious, the weird and at times, the horrifying. Almost everyone surrounding Mary during the creation of Frankenstein died young, several not long after that summer, and this inspired a thought. 'What if they did something that summer … what if they did something that cursed them or marked them for death?' It seems a very natural extension of real life to speculate on. Legend says that the idea for Frankenstein came to Shelley in a dream. Her husband Percy Shelley was haunted by a doppelganger and premonitions of drowning. Mary learned to spell her name off her mother's tombstone (their names were the same) and is rumoured to have lost her virginity on her mother's grave. 'No one will ever be as goth as Mary Shelley,' says Sayer. The play starts its run at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from August 21. Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Scoop
NZ Sculpture OnShore Returns With A Wonderous Range Of Art To Inspire And Enjoy
Tickets to NZ Sculpture OnShore – the country's largest outdoor sculpture exhibition – are now on sale, offering visitors access to more than 120 joyful, inspiring and spectacular works held at Operetu Fort Takapuna, the stunning clifftop park in Devonport, Auckland. The biennial exhibition which features monumental multi-metre-high sculptures, quirky and colourful creations, light and sound art works, and several site-specific installations, will be open to the public from 8 to 23 November. Proceeds from the sale of artwork at the event, now in its 29th year, go to Women's Refuge NZ. Since inception, it has raised more than $2.6 million for the victims of domestic violence. Funds raised from this year's exhibition will go directly toward supporting and protecting women and children experiencing extreme hardship through the Sievwright Fund, and to the Friends of Women's Refuge Counselling services. NZ Sculpture OnShore is Women's Refuge NZ's largest public fundraising event. The exhibition features work from emerging and established artists from around New Zealand, with a mix of crowd favourites who have exhibited at previous events, and others offering fresh and exciting new perspectives. Exhibition curator Sally Lush says the range of art in this year's exhibition is truly remarkable. 'A day spent at NZ Sculpture OnShore offers awe and wonder to all who attend. The artworks on show have been selected to bring a sense of fun, to offer beauty, to ask questions, or to deepen our understanding of the world around us. 'Some sculptures can be carried in one hand, while others need cranes and heavy machinery to install. Many of the exhibiting artists are internationally acclaimed, and we are incredibly fortunate that their works are available for view and purchase,' says Ms Lush. Included in this year's exhibition are 2023 Fisher Funds People's Choice Award winner Jamie Thomas (Bombay Hills) who returns with Loose Ends comprising three twisted and compressed three-tonne steel balls up to 1.6-metres in height evoking collapse, tension, industrial transformation and decay. Clinton Christian (Hamilton) presents Lifesaver - a bright red, resin-coated circular seat 1.2-metres in diameter designed to offer solace and hope for brighter days ahead; Daniel McKerrow (Hawera), whose super-sized tūī dominated the skyline at 2023s exhibition, presents Whakaruruhau, a towering tribute to protection, strength and collective healing; and Merle Bishop (Takapuna) is back with Sit With Me…I Brought These for You! - a fresh iteration of her Sit With Me seat featuring Spot, the endearing dog that captured visitors' hearts at the 2023 exhibition. Artists taking part in this year's exhibition come from Ahipara in the Far North to Arrowtown in the Deep South. There are 19 works in this year's exhibition by South Island artists, including Bryn Jones (Dunedin) with The Wake - a 3-metre-long fibreglass whale plunging to the surface, marked with scrimshaw drawings as a reminder of our history and mistreatment of these taonga; Arrowtown's Fiona Garlick presenting Piwakawaka and the Pinecone in bronze, inviting us to ask the question 'could this cheeky little messenger be heralding the demise of our native landscape to wilding pine?'. You'll need to look up to see Christchurch artist Justin Galligan 's The Absentee – a group of 4.4-metre-high chairs made of steel that are each light enough to carry. You'll see innovative work by artists working in a variety of materials. Beehive, created to look like New Zealand's parliament building by Studio Reset (Ōtaki) and her swarm of bees is bound to attract a crowd. 'it's about the 'politics' of the bees themselves, working together towards a common goal, each achieving their own tasks for the greater good of the hive,' says the artist. Sean Crawford (Masterton) injects humour to his artwork Urban Angels which comprises stainless steel road cones with lighting elements, signalling danger and caution as a sign of our times; and Mt Roskill, Auckland artist Amanda MacKenzie 's 2-metre-high Whorl made entirely of coat hangers is wonderous. Two artists invite us to act rather than avoid the 'elephant in the room' with towering works: Facing Our Elephants a 2.5-metre-high and 3.5-metre-wide mother with her baby in corten steel by Clevedon artist Jorge Wright; and Whangārei artist Kristin Kay's ceramic What Elephant? which will be on view in one of the Fort's gun emplacements. This year's event includes more than 11 sculptures from Māori artists across the motu. They include works by three members of the Rotorua-based Kemp family. Master carver Joe Kemp (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi and Te Arawa ki Ngāti Makino) presents Hinemoana guardian of the waterways surrounding Operetu; Kemp's partner Sherie Kemp exhibits Ngā Whetū O Matariki comprising nine sculptural rocks depicting the Matariki star constellation; and their son Teimah Kemp who takes part in the exhibition for the first time with a 1.6-metre-high Hei Tiki depicting new life carved from Oamaru stone. New for this year's exhibition is the Take a Seat trail; an imaginative journey of quirky, whimsical, stylish and practical seating placed along the coastal paths and gardens. 'These one-of-a-kind seats invite visitors to take a moment to sit, rest, and take in the breathtaking views,' says Ms Lush. 'We're thrilled to also unveil a new Garden Art Series and Gallery,' adds Ms Lush. 'The indoor gallery is always extremely popular. This year visitors will experience an expanded offering with a curated collection of smaller-scale sculptures nestled outside in the gardens which will be available to take home the same day of purchase.' NZ Sculpture OnShore general manager Dee Paranihi says the event is a great day out to share with family or friends. 'This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy outdoor art in a relaxed and beautiful setting, whilst actively supporting a great cause.' The site's underground fort will once again host the Auckland schools' exhibition, featuring collaborative works by a record number of 20 primary, intermediate and high schools. 'Our event is one of the rare occasions that the public can access and visit the historic fort and tunnels at this rich cultural location,' says Ms Paranihi. Women's Refuge Chief Executive Dr Ang Jury has expressed deep gratitude for the immense contribution of organisers and artists involved in the long-running fundraising event. 'For almost 30 years, this event has brought together an extraordinary range of art. It's not only an incredible day out, but also a crucial fundraiser that enables us to do more for the women and children who use our services. I just can't thank the Friends of Women's Refuges Trust enough for their dedication and enduring partnership,' says Dr Jury. NZ Sculpture OnShore is grateful for the support of principal sponsor Fisher Funds and gold sponsors Hesketh Henry and Harcourts Cooper & Co. Notes
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- NZ Herald
Behind The Scenes: Sarah Voon On Her Costumes for Auckland Theatre Company's MARY: The Birth Of Frankenstein
From television and film to the stage, costume designer Sarah Voon makes her theatre debut with ATC's MARY: The Birth of Frankenstein – a reimagining of Mary Shelley's gothic creation. Sarah Voon is the costume designer for the world premiere of Auckland Theatre Company's MARY: The Birth of Frankenstein. Set in 1816, this play reimagines the infamous stormy evening when Mary Shelley, the mother of gothic horror, first conjured up the idea of Frankenstein.
