IN the early 1960s two strong national treasures were the creative force behind one of British cinema's most successful franchises, but the Miss Marple films were almost never made.

Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie didn't want actor Margaret Rutherford to bring her fabled spinster to life and Margaret Rutherford was mortified at the prospects of sullying her reputation with something as sordid as murder.

Next February, York Theatre Royal will tell the who-almost-didn't-dunnit story of why the acting legend and so called ‘funniest woman alive’ didn't want to take on the role that made her celebrated across the world.

In Murder, Margaret and Me, Rutherford and Christie form an unlikely friendship filled with afternoon tea and gossip. Meanwhile Agatha turns detective herself as she becomes determined to unearth the actresses tragic and shocking secret.

This premiere production will form part of a year-long programme of work put together by an all-female panel and Nichola McAuliffe will play Agatha Christie. Nichola has won a number of awards, including the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Musical for Kiss Me Kate.

Susie Blake takes on the role of Margaret Rutherford, whose childhood in India was overshadowed by sadness and tragedy. Susie’s career on stage includes various Alan Ayckbourn productions at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre.

They are joined by Indira Joshi as The Spinster, whose character narrates and leads the story. Indira is widely known for appearing as Madhuri Kumar in seven series of the BBC’s The Kumars at Number 42.

Murder, Margaret and Me is written by Philip Meeks and will be directed by York Theatre Royal Artistic Director Damian Cruden and designed by Dawn Allsopp.

Tickets for Murder, Margaret and Me are on sale now priced £30 - £12 (£1.50 transaction fee per booking) from York Theatre Royal box office in person, by phone on 01904 623568 and securely online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.