Type – Murder Mystery, comedic, 1950s drama
If you liked – An Inspector Calls, The Mousetrap
Dial M for Murder: Suspenseful and stylish with a serving of lethal jealousy
First broadcast on BBC in 1952, Dial M for Murder is a screen and stage play by Frederick Knotts which found fame when it was later turned into an Alfred Hitchcock thriller starring Grace Kelley. Unlike a whodunnit where you don’t find out who the killer is until the end, Dial M for Murder is an inverted mystery where we know who the killer is from the beginning, but the plot focuses on how the detective will catch them out. In 2020, American playwright Jeffrey Hatcher was asked to refresh the text; to explore whether he could bring something new to the story and to add in a few more twists and turns.
Hatcher’s adaptation keeps the story set in 1950s Mayfair, London but turns Margot’s lover Max into Maxine, and reimagines Tony as a failed novelist instead of ex pro-tennis star as well as adding in more layers, hierarchy and context to the plot . Margot (Anna Samson) is having an affair with a crime and thriller novelist (Madeleine Jones) while blissfully unaware that her husband (Garth Holcombe) knows about her infidelity and is plotting his revenge to get to her inheritance. He thinks he’s concocted the perfect murderous plan, but when things go awry, finds himself tangled in a web of lies he can’t weasel his way out of.
Nick Fry’s set brings us into the living room of an upper-class 1950s home, where still life paintings hang on mahogany-red walls and mid-century furniture is bathed in warm and homely light. There’s great visual unity between Fry’s set and costuming which sees mid-century woollen and tweed suits and conservative colours that reflect the socioeconomic stance in such a class focussed time and place. Matt Cox‘s lighting and Madeleine Picard‘s sound design heighten the drama and reinforce the clearly defined social standings.
Garth Holcombe‘s Tony is charismatic and charming on the outside, and poised with a sinister, smug and calculated precision on the inside. His comedic timing keeps the scheming tension taut with an animated and villainous physical characterisation that’s highly entertaining. Anna Samson‘s Margot is delicate and intense, she portrays the highly distressed moments with great vulnerability, while keeping the performance grounded with the infidelity and mind-games she plays in her loveless marriage. Both actors are so animated in their facial expressions which enhance to the subtle, classist comedy throughout. Madeleine Jones brings witty, intelligent, pocket rocket vibes to her New Yorker Maxine. There’s a warm, dynamic and fun chemistry between the ladies that amplify the the layered and emotional depth both actors bring to their roles. Kenneth Moraleda‘s portrayal of Inspector Hubbard is nuanced and charming. Without falling into cliché cadences, he brings comic relief and clarity and he’s magnetic as he pieces together the clues.
Is Dial M For Murder Worth Seeing in Sydney?
Mark Kilmurry‘s direction entwines the intricate mechanics and the near misses while keeping the pacing brisk and thrilling. The staging exudes modern dynamics in a way that still honours the era and area specific context while keeping the audience in suspense. Tonally, the production encapsulates a film-noir feel that basks in the irony while maintaining clarity and is paired with an ensemble of layered and truthful, highly engaging and sparkling performances.
Tickets and Practical Info for Dial M For Murder in Sydney 🎟️
https://www.ensemble.com.au/shows/dial-m-for-murder
28 Nov 2025 – 11 Jan 2026
2hrs 20mins (including interval)
Recommended for ages 14+
Wheelchair Accessible
Hearing Loop
Audio Described (selected dates)
Adult themes, violence and water-based haze.
Cast & Creatives
Playwright: Frederick Knott
Adapted by: Jeffrey Hatcher
Director Mark Kilmurry
Cast : Garth Holcombe, Madeleine Jones, Kenneth Moraleda, Anna Samson, David Soncin
Set & Costume Designer: Nick Fry
Lighting Designer: Matt Cox
Composer & Sound Designer: Madeleine Picard
Fight Director: Scott Witt
Dialect Coach: Linda Nicholls-Gidley
Stage Manager: Kristy Mangelsdorf
Assistant Stage Manager: Lara Kyriazis
Costume Supervisor: Lily Matelijan
“Dial M for Murder (Hatcher)” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French,
Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Originally commissioned and produced at The Old Globe
Barry Edelstein, Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Timothy J. Shields, Managing Director
