Salford-born Robert Powell has been cast as Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s Murder On Air, which plays at The Lowry from September 16–20.

Powell, famous for his portrayal of Jesus in Franco Zefferelli’s Jesus of Nazareth, will perform three gripping radio thrillers from the Queen of Crime read in an authentic studio setting with live sound effects in the style of their original BBC broadcasts.

The three stories are Butter in a Lordly Dish, The Yellow Iris and Personal Call.

Brought to the stage by leading West End producer, Bill Kenwright, in association with The Agatha Christie Company, Murder on Air also stars Liza Goddard, whose many roles include TV hits such as Bergerac and Give Us A Clue.

Powell is no stranger to the role - having already wowed critics and audiences alike as the Belgium detective during the UK tour of Black Coffee earlier this year – or indeed The Lowry, of which he is an honorary patron.

In his 50-year acting career, Powell has received multiple awards as well as a BAFTA nomination for Jesus of Nazareth in th 1970s.

He went on to star in numerous films including The Thirty-Nine Steps, Four Feathers and Shaka Zulu.

His extensive stage performances include Alan Bennett’s Single Spies, Keith Waterhouse’s Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.

He is also well known for starring alongside Jasper Carrott in the 90s TV sitcom The Detectives, and more recently as Mark Williams in BBC One’s Holby City.

Visit www.thelowry.com for details.