ANTICIPATION: the intangible tingle that plays such a large part in your theatre experience. The expectation of pleasure starts when leaving the house, peaking as the curtain opens to reveal the set and the first scene.

Anticipation may in part stem from the reputation of the storyteller. Who better to tell a great story than the queen of crime, the princess of page-turning, Agatha Christie herself?

November’s first Playhouse production Murder Margaret and Me, a play by Philip Meeks, takes the audience into the confidence of Agatha Christie and her contemporary, character actress (and the screen embodiment of Christie’s Miss Marple character), Margaret Rutherford.

The fame of the leading ladies adds to the anticipation: while we may not intimately ‘know’ much about these two great Dames, we’re at least familiar with their public personae. Meeks cleverly uses this to draw us into an intimate (imaginary) relationship between these the women that is both believable and thrilling. While fictional, their encounter is peppered with enough real-life facts to make the story plausible and entertaining. The use of fictionalised versions of real people gives the audience greater emotional investment in the story.

We’ll avoid much detail to avoid giving away any of the various twists, but plot hinges on a kind of unspoken symbiosis, with each character having a need for the other. Don’t be put off if that sounds overly serious: yes, there’s plenty of drama, but it’s also sprinkled with lots of humour directed at the knowing audience.

Murder, Margaret and Me opens on November 1 and runs until the 11th. There are lots of Christie fans about, so don’t be too late to book you ticket for an evening of anticipation and surprise!

In other Playhouse news, the Alfie Robot Retro Vintage Fair returns on Saturday, October 28, following a hugely successful event in the spring.

Jill Coulson, who organises the fair, will be welcoming back a number of the popular stall holders from the event last spring and we well as introducing an array of new sellers.

The fair will feature 20 stalls, offering vintage fashion, homeware and furniture. Also returning is the ever-popular tearoom, supplying wearying shoppers with tempting cakes to provide the sugar rush to fuel their return to retail therapy.

Murder, Margaret and Me is at the Playhouse from November 1 to 11. Tickets are available at www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or from 01943 609 539.