This year’s Master Playwright Festival highlights the work of the world’s best-selling novelist of all time, Agatha Christie. A well-known crime writer, Christie has created some of the most popular stories including Murder on the Orient Express and And Then There Were None. The festival will focus on her significant body of work, which includes more than 66 detective novels, 150 short stories and 19 plays. The Mousetrap, which opened in London's West Theatre in 1952 has been the longest continuously running play in history. Running for 64 years with more than 26,000 performances, it shows no signs of ending any time soon.
Tickets and passes are on sale for the 17th MASTER PLAYWRIGHT FESTIVAL, which features 15 offerings including stage plays, readings, screenings and interactive events. The festival kicks off Tuesday, February 7 with Introducing Christie hosted by actor and director John Bluethner. This year’s Master Playwright Festival showcases the work of ACTRA/PAL Winnipeg, The AFC, Dramatic Theatre, Echo Theatre/Saucy Gal, Merlyn Productions, Looking Glass Productions, R-G Productions, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Shoestring Players, Tara Players Theatre Company, Vault Projects and Winnipeg Mennonite Theatre.
Other events include Murder She Said and Death on the Nile at the Winnipeg Public Library, a screening of two of her most thrilling films. Christie fans can also enjoy a game night when Dalnavert Museum and Across The Board Café team up for Clue at the Museum.
The best way to experience the breadth of Christie’s work is to purchase a CHRISTIEPASS for only $90. A pass allows one admission to each production at a savings of 50%. Don’t delay, the number of passes is limited!
Festival passes can be purchased by calling the Royal MTC Box Office at 204 942 6537, toll-free at 1 877 446 4500 or by visiting the Box Office at 174 Market Avenue. Individual tickets start at $12 and are available through participating companies. For full details, please visit royalmtc.ca/mpf.
About Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Master Playwright Festival
In 2001, MTC chose to honour Samuel Beckett at the first Master Playwright Festival. The winter festival provides opportunities for both professional and emerging artists from a variety of organizations to produce work under the umbrella of a larger festival, while giving audiences an opportunity to thoroughly immerse themselves in the work of a playwright who may not have a regular home on Winnipeg stages.