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100 Years of Witness for the Prosecution
A History of the Story
One of Agatha Christie's most famous works to be adapted for the big screen, Witness for the Prosecution, began life as a short story named 'Traitor Hands' in 1925. In 1933, the story, renamed 'The Witness for the Prosecution' was published in the UK short story collection: The Hound of Death. In 1948 the short story would be published for the first time in a US collection bearing its name: The Witness for the Prosecution & Other Stories. In 1953 Christie would adapt the play for the stage, dropping the definite article and tweaking the storyline to make it even more suspenseful. The 1957 box-office hit, directed by Billy Wilder, was based on Christie's play. The work would be subsequently adapted twice more for the screen, in this case for television: in 1982 for the US, and in 2016 for UK's BBC One. Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution has been playing at London's County Hall since 2017. This extraordinary history highlights the depth, and compelling nature of this Christie story.
About the Plot
The Witness for the Prosecution, 1925
1920s London. Leonard Vole stands accused of murdering a rich widow. Did he trick Emily French into leaving him a vast fortune? Her maid Janet Mackenzie suspects the young chancer, but solicitor Mr Mayherne feels sorry for the wayward young man. Mr Vole is convinced his wife, Romaine Vole, can help to clear his name. But Mrs Vole is certainly not the witness the defence are expecting...
I must know just how damaging the case against you is likely to be. Then we can fix upon the best line of defence.
See the Show at London's County Hall
Witness for the Prosecution
Now in its eighth year, Witness for the Prosecution has captured the imagination of thousands; enthralled by the case of Leonard Vole. The audience are thrillingly placed in the thick of the action, as Agatha Christie’s story of justice, passion and betrayal unfolds around them. The twists and turns of the case are played out in a spectacular courtroom setting, as prosecution battles defence, and witnesses take to the stand to give their shocking testimonies.
Don’t miss this landmark stage production on London’s South Bank, directed by Lucy Bailey.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Classic Christie. The queen of cunning has been brilliantly served
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Explore the 2016 TV Adaptation
The Witness for the Prosecution
A murder, brutal and bloodthirsty, has stained the plush carpets of a London townhouse. The victim is the glamorous and rich Emily French. All the evidence points to Leonard Vole, a young chancer to whom the heiress left her vast fortune, as the culprit. But Leonard is adamant that this partner, Romaine, can provide him with an alibi.
Written by Sarah Phelps (The Sixth Commandment, A Very British Scandal), this two-part series is currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer (UK).
It is a story of sex, money, deceit, performance and murder with the most glorious, sleight-of-hand twist.
Discover other cases featuring lawyers
Christie shone a spotlight on court cases throughout her writing career, including in her standalone novels, her plays and short stories, as well as in several Poirot books. In 2025 we’re exploring the role of characters and their careers in the Read Christie challenge.
