Ferndown Drama Presents
The 39 Steps
Book by John Buchan
Adapted for the stage by Patrick Barlow
Directed by Karen Ward
The comedy version of the classic Hitchcock film, The 39 Steps.
Richard Hannay is in a London music-hall theatre watching a performance by “Mr Memory”, when he meets Annabella Schmidt. Suddenly gunshots are heard, and in the ensuing panic, a frightened Annabella persuades Hannay into taking her back to his flat. Once there, she tells him that she’s running away from secret agents who are standing outside on the street.
Annabella claims to know of a plot to steal vital British military secrets, and tells Hannay that the plot is being masterminded by a man who has part of his little finger missing. For her to stop the plot, she then tells Hannay that she must go to a large house located in a small village in Scotland. She mentions something called “the thirty-nine steps” but doesn’t explain its meaning before she’s murdered during the night.
Fearing that he’ll be accused of Annabella’s murder, Hannay goes on the run. He sneaks out of his flat disguised as a milkman, and then boards a train to Scotland in a bid to follow up on the few clues that Annabella was able to give him before she died.
Hannay, who has now become the target of a nationwide manhunt, goes on to have all sorts of weird and wonderful adventures as he makes his way up to Scotland in a bid to uncover the truth about the plot. During the process he meets a number of interesting characters, some of whom will try to help him, and others who most definitely will not!
Tickets: All £12 (unreserved; booking fees apply); Available from the Box Office (01202 894858) or online.