Review: Death on the Nile, UK tour, Glasgow | Agatha Christie's Poirot meets murder in Egypt
- Lisa in the theatre
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
The UK and Ireland tour of Ken Ludwig, Lucy Bailey and Fiery Angel's new adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic 'Death on the Nile' plays in Glasgow this week. Read my review below.
Death on the Nile, UK tour | Glasgow ★★★☆☆
Review: 24 February 2026 | Theatre Royal, Glasgow
You do not want to be on holiday with Hercule Poirot. He's such a bad omen. Whether you're travelling by train or by boat, his presence is sure to signal a bloody murder, and your fellow passengers are likely to be a motley crew of unscrupulous characters. He just can't catch a break.
Death on the Nile sees the renowned Belgian detective Poirot (Mark Hadfield) board a luxurious Nile cruise teeming with rich and glamorous passengers. And sure enough, Poirot's opulent Nile steamship, the SS Karnak, is soon host to a curious blood-spattered murder scene, which only the observant detective is able to decipher.
Hot on the heels of their gorgeous production of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, producers Fiery Angel return to stages across the UK this year with another Christie adaptation, Death on the Nile. This play reunites writer Ken Ludwig with director Lucy Bailey, who bring their trademark sumptuous staging and old-world glamour to Christie's classic whodunnit.
A boatload of shady and spectacularly named characters
Agatha Christie is the master of complex, well-crafted plots featuring umpteen suspects and even more red herrings. The central storyline of Death on the Nile revolves around the love triangle of Simon Doyle (Nye Occomore), his new wife Linnet Doyle (Libby Alexandra-Cooper) and Simon's ex-fiancée and Linnet's ex-friend, Jacqui de Bellfort (Esme Hough.)
But the drama in Egypt sees Poirot faced with a boatload of shady and spectacularly named characters, all played by a strong supporting cast including flamboyant author Salome Otterbourne (the brilliant Glynis Barber), Egyptologist Septimus Troy (Terence Wilton) and Poirot's old friend Colonel Race (Bob Barrett.)
In a company of deliciously complex and interesting characters, it was Esme Hough's Jacqui who wowed with her impeccably clear diction and powerful projection. It's a cliché to say that an actor demands your attention, but among a sea of spectacular characters, that's exactly what Hough does with her enigmatic, hypnotic Jacqui. Budding stage actors should study Hough's performance. This is how it's done.
Mike Britton's set design for Death on the Nile is a striking two-tiered boat deck, complete with solid sliding doors and intriguing (though dark) interior reveals. But it's his costume design that steals the show. Every character is impeccably turned out, and every scene dazzles with sumptuous, well-considered colour palettes.
Hadfield's Poirot delights
As beautiful as it all looks - and every scene is truly breathtaking - Death on the Nile is an unbalanced play. The entirety of Act I introduces the very many characters and their backstories. There's a lot of dialogue, plenty of context, but little drama. Those who have come to the theatre to see a murder mystery, like myself, may breathe a sigh of relief when at last, the titular 'death' takes place in the very final moment of this act.
Act II is a much snappier and more bloody affair, as Poirot gets to work looking for clues and unravelling the mystery of who dunnit (and how and why.) It's all lots of fun, if slightly over complex and unbelievable.
Mark Hadfield's Poirot is an amiable and playful narrator. He often breaks the fourth wall to share a joke with the audience, poking fun at himself and his situation. This is never overused, and it works well, warming the audience to the already beloved character even more.
Death on the Nile never quite matches the lofty success of Murder on the Orient Express, but it's nevertheless a beautifully presented play, worth a watch and will be a treat for Christie and Poirot fans. ★★★☆☆
Death on the Nile plays the Theatre Royal, Glasgow until Saturday 28th February 2026. Tickets via ATG Tickets here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/agatha-christies-death-on-the-nile/
MORE: The full cast info for the Death on the Nile UK & Ireland tour and further Scottish dates can be found here: https://www.lisainthetheatre.com/post/death-on-the-nile-cast
MORE: Also playing in Glasgow theatres this week:
A Play, A Pie and A Pint's Spring 2026 season opens with Someone's Knockin' at the Door. Read my review here: https://www.lisainthetheatre.com/post/someones-knockin-at-the-door-review
Waiting for Godot is at the Citizens Theatre https://www.lisainthetheatre.com/post/waiting-for-godot-citz-cast
and over in Edinburgh:
Highly anticipated new musical One Day begins previews. Find out more here: https://www.lisainthetheatre.com/post/one-day-the-musical-extends-run-in-edinburgh
And the Steps musical, Here and Now descends on Edinburgh Playhouse. Read my review here: https://www.lisainthetheatre.com/post/review-here-and-now-the-steps-musical
Just announced: Paranormal Activity UK tour | Scottish premiere of the West End hit will haunt Glasgow in 2026
