MEDIA RELEASE
17th MASTER PLAYWRIGHT FESTIVAL
CELEBRATES AGATHA CHRISTIE
February 8 – 26, 2017
WINNIPEG, January 16, 2017 – More than 10 partner companies have banded together to honour bestselling novelist and renowned playwright Agatha Christie whose extensive body of work is celebrated at
the 2017 MASTER PLAYWRIGHT FESTIVAL.
Known as the “Queen of Crime,” Agatha Christie’s extensive body of work includes more than 66 detective
novels, 150 short stories and 19 plays. CHRISTIEFEST takes a closer look at her career in theatre through
stagings of full-length works, film screenings, play readings and interactive events at the Dalnavert
Museum and Winnipeg Public Library.
CHRISTIEFEST kicks off on Feb 7 at 7pm with a free introductory lecture by John Bluethner at the King’s
Head Pub. John will explore Agatha Christie’s background, family relationships and major influences, and
also delve into the winning formula of the English murder mystery she honed to perfection.
Note that there have been program changes. Please visit http://www.mtc.mb.ca/Festivals-Events/MasterPlaywright-Festival.aspx to view show updates.
To maximize your festival experience, purchase a CHRISTIEPASS for only $90. A pass allows one
admission to each performance at a savings of 50%. To buy a festival pass, contact the Royal MTC Box
Office at 204 942 6537 (toll free at 1 877 446 4500) or visit us in person at 174 Market Ave. For
more information on the productions or how to purchase tickets from participating companies, visit
www.royalmtc.ca/mpf.
The performing companies would like to thank Canadian Heritage, Winnipeg Free Press, Relish New
Brand Experience, Vantage Studios & Print Shop, the Fairmont Winnipeg and The King’s Head Pub for
their generous support of the 2017 Master Playwright Festival.
Royal MTC will present Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee, Christie’s riveting thriller about detective Hercule
Poirot’s mission to smoke out the thief of Sir Claud Amory’s scientific formula.
About Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Master Playwright Festival
In 2001, Royal MTC chose to honour Samuel Beckett at the first Master Playwright Festival. The winter
festival provides opportunities for both professional and emerging artists from a variety of organizations to
produce work under the umbrella of a larger festival, while giving audiences an opportunity to thoroughly
immerse themselves in the work of a playwright who may not have a regular home on Winnipeg stages.
-30For more information, please contact:
Kathleen Cerrer, Publicist
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
204 934 0302
[email protected] | www.royalmtc.ca
CHRISTIEFEST 2017 is proudly presented by: