Rebus: A Game Called Malice, Lighthouse Poole

FOLLOWING the huge success of the critically acclaimed BBC series, the much-loved detective John Rebus will be on stage at Poole’s Lighthouse theatre for a new murder mystery play.

Rebus: A Game Called Malice is written by Ian Rankin and Simon Reade, with Gray O’Brien in the title role. The play will conclude its 12-week tour of the UK with a week at Lighthouse Poole later this month.

The story begins when a splendid dinner party in an Edinburgh mansion concludes with a murder mystery game created by the hostess. A murder needs to be solved. But the guests have secrets of their own, threatened by the very game they are playing.

And among them is Insp. John Rebus. True crime is his calling. Is he playing an alternative game, one to which only he knows the rules? There are suspects, clues and danger with every twist and turn – and a shocking discovery will send this game called ‘Malice’ hurtling towards a gasp-inducing conclusion.

Ian Rankin is the multimillion-copy award-winning bestseller of over 30 novels worldwide and creator of John Rebus. His books have been translated into 36 languages and adapted for radio, the stage and the screen.

The theatre credits for Brien include Educating Rita, Catch Me If You Can and The Case of the Frightened Lady. His television credits include Coronation Street as Tony Gordon, Casualty as Richard McCaid and Peak Practice as Dr Tom Deneley.

Meanwhile, Billy Hartman returns to the role of Jack Fleming, having debuted it for the stage in 2023. His television credits include Emmerdale and A Touch of Frost.

Perhaps best known for her role in the TV series Endeavour, Abigail Thaw plays Stephanie Jeffries. Her theatre credits include Anthropology, The Strange Death of John Doe at Hampstead Theatre and Julius Caesar at Sheffield Crucible.

Rebus: A Game Called Malice will be at Lighthouse Poole from Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th November. Tickets are priced from £25. For more information and bookings visit www.lighthousepoole.co.uk or call the box office on 01202 280000.