Robert Powell is Hercule Poirot in Black Coffee

Bill Kenwright Productions

It has been anounced that Robert Powell will play the famous Belgian sleuth in Black Coffee, the only one of Agatha Christie's plays to feature Poirot. It is a production of the Agatha Christie Theatre Company and Bill Kenwright Productions, and will go on tour throughout the UK in 2014. 

Powell (pictured, left) will be joined by a stellar cast including Liza Goddard, Gary Mavers and Ben Nealon. He has some pretty big shoes to fill, following in the footsteps of  David Suchet, who recently played the role for the last time on television in Curtain back in November. He has played Poirot for 25 years appearing in every single story, but not Black Coffee. However, he did perform a rehearsed reading of the play in 2012.

Matthew Pritchard, Agatha Christie's grandson said "I am so pleased that Robert Powell has agreed to play Poirot in the Agatha Christie Theatre Company's production of Black Coffee. He will be the latest in a long line of distinguished actors to play the role, and a real treat lies in stall in 2014 for all those around the country who will go to see the play."