Prepare for laughs and scares in Deathtrap

The comedy thriller is the first play at the Playhouse — kicking off its spring/summer season in the main house next Thursday.

It is directed by Adam Penford, who directed Stepping Out at Salisbury Playhouse and A Small Family Business at the National Theatre and is Revival Director for One Man, Two Guvnors.

Written by Ira Levin, it is the story of Sidney Bruhl, a Broadway playwright, who has failed to have a hit in some time and is now suffering from writer’s block.

A young writer, Clifford, arrives on the doorstep of his remote home with a new script. Sidney then plans to kill him and pass off the play as his own.

Also, thrown into the mix of characters is Sidney's long suffering wife, his lawyer and a psychic named Helga who can foresee murders on the horizon.

The cast includes Kim Wall, whose television credits include Armstrong and Miller, as Sidney Bruhl and Sam Phillips, who stars in the BBC’s The Syndicate and feature film Far from the Madding Crowd, as Clifford Anderson.

Julien Ball, whose television appearances include Law & Order UK, plays Porter Milgrim and Beverley Klein, who was in the original cast of Les Misérables and whose television credits include Call the Midwife and Mr Selfridge, plays Helga ten Dorp.

Sidney’s wife, Myra, is played by Lesley Vickerage, whose starred in Soldier, Soldier and Between the Lines.

Deathtrap holds the record for the longest running comedy thriller on Broadway and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play.

Director Adam Penford says the production has stayed truthful to Levin's original writing and plays homage to classic thrillers through incorporating a film element into the show.

"A combination of five actors, one set, some scares and some laughs. It has got everything," said Penford.

He says there are "so many twists and turns".

Speaking about taking on such a well-known and successful play, Penford said: "It is a good challenge. It is exciting and fun because it is so well written which is why it has been so successful.

"It is not scary, it is so fun to work on. Nothing is what it seems."

This is the first time Adam has directed a thriller. He said: "It is a classic play that is just so entertaining. I am so thrilled with the cast - I'm very lucky to have them."

It runs at the Playhouse until February 27. For tickets call 01722 320333 or go to salisburyplayhouse.com