A gripping tale of love and deception made famous by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1950’s film, Ensemble Theatre will present Jeffrey Hatcher’s spine-tingling new adaptation of Frederick Knott’s Dial M for Murder.
Directed by Ensemble’s Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry and starring Australian stage and screen actor Anna Samson (Belvoir’s August Osage County, ABC’s Return to Paradise) in her Ensemble debut, Dial M for Murder follows the ‘perfect murder’ scheme gone awry.
The ever-so-charming ex-tennis-pro Tony Wendice has his eye on the prize. The prize in question? His wife Margot’s eye-wateringly enormous inheritance. Fuelled by greed and revenge, he concocts the perfect plan to eliminate her from the equation. But after a small mishap, Tony must spin a web of lies to outsmart the cops to avoid a jaunt behind bars.
“A murder at Christmas, what could be better! Holmes, Dickens, spooks and thrillers: the season’s favourite companions. To unpack why would be a psychological nightmare, but suffice it to say Dial M for Murder belongs among the best of this tradition, and Jeffrey Hatcher’s marvellous new update keeps us guessing even more. I’m thrilled with this cast & creative team and here’s to this lovely “will-they-won’t-they, will-they-get-away with-it, and how?” said Mark Kilmurry.
“Audiences can expect the nostalgia that you come to the theatre for… it’s spine-tingling. There’s an edge of darkness to it while at the same time being kind of a rompy entertainment as well,” said Samson, who plays Margot in the production.
Samson is joined by a stellar cast including Garth Holcombe (Photograph 51, The Woman in Black), Madeleine Jones (The Memory of Water, Michael Cassel Group’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Kenneth Moraleda (Cruise Control, Belvoir’s An Enemy of the People) and David Soncin (A Doll’s House, A View from the Bridge).
Crackling with suspense, intrigue and unexpected surprises, don’t miss this explosive night of theatre.
Director: Mark Kilmurry | Featuring: 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: Kirsty Mangelsdorf | Assistant Stage Manager: Lara Kyriazis | Costume Supervisor: Lily Mateljan
Dial M for Murder
Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli (North Sydney)
Season: 28 November 2025 – 11 January 2026
Information and Bookings: www.ensemble.com.au
Image: Anna Samson stars in Dial M for Murder (supplied)