THE first readings of a play by Scotland’s “Queen of Crime” are to be held this summer in Pitlochry and Edinburgh.
This August, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, in partnership with Edinburgh International Book Festival, will present a special script-in-hand reading of Val McDermid’s play, And Midnight Never Come, which explores the notoriously controversial circumstances of playwright Christopher Marlowe’s death.
One of crime fiction’s most formidable voices, McDermid has been crafting best-selling thrillers for more than 30 years, selling more than 19 million copies worldwide.
From her groundbreaking Lindsay Gordon series to the beloved Tony Hill and Carol Jordan books, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of crime fiction. Her novels have been translated into more than 40 languages and adapted for television, most recently Karen Pirie.
McDermid’s unflinching examination of human nature and evil has earned her numerous awards, including the CWA Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement and The Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award.
The author said she had always been interested in Marlowe as a character and a writer and was particularly drawn to his death in mysterious circumstances in an alehouse in Deptford. The three men with him at the time were all closely connected to the Walsingham family and the English secret service.
“I’ve been fascinated by Christopher Marlowe since I first encountered his dynamic and ground-breaking work as a student, more years ago than I care to admit,” said McDermid.
“He was only 29 when he died in circumstances that are often misrepresented and this is my attempt to provide an explanation that fits the known facts and makes sense.
“I’m delighted to be working with such talented teams across Pitlochry Festival Theatre and the Edinburgh International Book Festival and I hope audiences will be as thrilled by the life and death of one of our most startling playwrights.”
Director Philip Howard added: “Val McDermid applies a lifetime of experience and forensic observation to the story of Christopher Marlowe and the last day of his life and – as a playwright – she does it with vibrant theatricality.
“I’m excited that Pitlochry Festival Theatre and the Edinburgh International Book Festival have combined forces to give Val’s play its first public reading.”
And Midnight Never Come will take place in the Studio at Pitlochry Festival Theatre on August 18 and at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August 19 at Spiegeltent
