''Towards Zero'' is a 1956 thriller play by

Agatha Christie Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English people, English author known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving ...

and Gerald Verner and based on Christie's 1944 novel ''

Towards Zero ''Towards Zero'' is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in June 1944 and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in July of the same year. The first US edition of the novel retailed a ...

''. It premiered at the

Theatre Royal, Nottingham The Theatre Royal in Nottingham, England, is a theatre venue in the heart of Nottingham City Centre and is owned by Nottingham City Council as part of a complex that also includes the city's Royal Concert Hall. The Theatre Royal attracts maj ...

before transferring to the

St James's Theatre The St James's Theatre was in King Street, St James's, King Street, St James's, London. It opened in 1835 and was demolished in 1957. The theatre was conceived by and built for a popular singer, John Braham (tenor), John Braham; it lost mone ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

's West End where it ran for 205 performances between 4 September 1956 and 2 March 1957. The London cast featured George Baker,

Cyril Raymond Cyril William North Raymond Order of the British Empire, MBE (13 February 1899 – 20 March 1973) was a British character actor. He maintained a stage and screen career from his teens until his retirement, caused by ill health, in the 1960s. Hi ...

Frederick Leister Frederick Leister (1 December 1885 – 24 August 1970), was an English actor. He began his career in musical comedy and after serving in the First World War he played character roles in modern West End plays and in classic drama. He appeared in ...

, William Kendall, Max Brimmell,

Michael Nightingale Alfred George Cyril Michael Nightingale (6 October 1922 – 8 May 1999) was an English stage, film and television actor. He appeared in 13 (9 credited and 4 uncredited) of the ''Carry On'' film series – the tenth highest number of appear ...

and Gillian Lind. The play features

Superintendent Battle Superintendent Battle is a fictional character created by Agatha Christie who appeared in five of her novels. Overview Battle is notable for his stolid good sense and careful management of information as a case proceeds. He relies in part ...

one of Christie's recurring characters. Reviews were favourable.Kabatchnik p.207

References

Bibliography

* Kabatchnik, Amnon. ''Blood on the Stage, 1950-1975: Milestone Plays of Crime, Mystery, and Detection''. Scarecrow Press, 2011. * Wearing, J.P. ''The London Stage 1950–1959: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel''. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. 1956 plays Plays set in Cornwall West End plays Thriller plays British plays Plays based on novels Plays by Agatha Christie Plays by Gerald Verner {{1950s-play-stub