THE breath-taking set for a sensational new stage adaptation of Agatha Christie’s world-famous thriller Murder On The Orient Express is the real star of this show.

Designer Robert Jones has created an ingenious set that features not only the famous Orient Express train, but an Istanbul restaurant interior, a station platform, the dining car, sleeper cabins and a revolving circle.

It quite literally takes your breath away and is complemented by the outstanding sound, music and lighting effects from Christopher Shutt, Adrian Sutton and Mark Henderson.

Agatha Christie’s world-famous novel has been adapted for the stage for the first time in Europe by multi-award-winning Ken Ludwig, whose previous Tony Award-winning productions include Crazy For You and Lend Me A Tenor.

Director Jonathan Church ably masterminds the plot, with Henry Goodman starring as the celebrated Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.

The production is visiting Bath exclusively, direct from its opening at the Chichester Festival Theatre and is a first class ride all the way, although Christie purists may not entirely like some of the changes to the plot.

Double Olivier Award winner Henry Goodman plays Hercule Poirot with an intelligent approach to the character and aplomb that is outstanding.

Poirot boards the legendary Simplon Orient Express for a luxurious rail journey from Istanbul to Calais in the dead of winter to get to London to investigate another case.

The train is surprisingly packed for the time of year and only the intervention of the manager Monsieur Bouc secures Poirot a first-class berth, alongside an intriguing and glittering company of international travellers.

But just after midnight, the Orient Express screeches to a halt, marooned by a snowdrift and by morning, one passenger is dead. Nobody can leave and a guard appears to be missing.

A killer is in their midst. Poirot must deploy his ‘little grey cells’ on the most difficult case of his career: one that will force him to question his deepest beliefs.

Agatha Christie purists will bemoan the changes to her original novel in this new adaptation but the 17-strong cast can’t be faulted for their excellent performances.

This production also features Joanna McCallum as Princess Dragomiroff, Patrick Robinson as Monsieur Bouc, Sara Stewart as Helen Hubbard, Timothy Watson as Samuel Ratchett, Joanna van Kampen as Greta Ohlsson, Laura Rogers as Countess Andrenyi, Philip Cairns as Colonel Arbuthnot, Samuel Collings as Hector MacQueen, Marc Antolin as Michel the Conductor and Taz Munyaneza as Mary Debenham. The Ensemble are Matt Addis, Kelvin Ade, Joelle Dyson and Jacqueline Tate.

Millie Moon and Charlie Sadler play the role of Daisy Armstrong, an American child who was abducted from her bedroom, held for ransom and later murdered.

Under Church’s direction, the production moves along confidently and keeps the mystery and suspense going until the end, when Poirot, as usual, solves the murder in the final scene. It’s definitely worth the ticket.

Murder On The Orient Express appears at the Theatre Royal Bath to Saturday, June 25. Tickets are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk