Murder On Air -Theatre Royal

Resplendant in full evening dress, a cast led by Judge John Deed stars Jenny Seagrove and Martin Shaw enact three of Agatha Christie's radio plays at Windsor's Theatre Royal.

Why wear evening dress for radio you youngsters ask? Because that's the way it once was done.

The plays - Personal Call, Yellow Iris and Butter in a Lordly Dish - are read in the style of their original BBC broadcasts in an authentic studio setting with live sound effects - phone calls, railway stations, through-trains,  murmured conversation, genteel applause.

In an unusual move, a rotating cast of celebrities are taking turns to star until Saturday, May 3. Others include Glynis Barber and Roy Marsden, Susan George and Simon Shepherd.

The plays are virtually unknown which hardly matters when gripping Christie crime, revenge and gruesome retribution is present. I particularly liked Yellow Iris with the brilliant Martin Shaw as Hercule Poirot.

The stories were funny and fast. To see them performed 'for radio' was delightful.