Our October theatre outing was to The Royal and Derngate Theatre, Northampton for “An Evening with Lucy Worsley”. In the first half, we learnt something about the life of Agatha Christie and the influences on her writing. Her books have sold a staggering 2 billion copies. Christie was born into wealth in 1890 although that had diminished considerably by the time her father died when she was 11yrs old. During the 1st World War Christie worked as a volunteer nurse and later as a dispenser in the hospital pharmacy, an experience which contributed to her knowledge and interest in poisons. Her husband, Archie who she married in 1914 when he was a handsome young pilot, later pursued a career in the city whilst at the same time, Agatha’s career as a writer started to flourish. A turning point in her life was her well known disappearance in 1926. She vanished one evening from her Berkshire home, with her car being found abandoned in Surrey the following day. She was found 11 days later when she was recognised by staff at a hotel in Harrogate. She was accused in the press of faking her disappearance for publicity and of being cruel, manipulative and a bad mother. Worsley has pieced together the evidence including Christie’s personal accounts which shed a completely different light on the episode to reveal someone who was ill, vulnerable and not believed. Christie’s marriage did not survive as her husband had met and fallen in love with someone else and wanted a divorce. Christie did however find love again after she went to Iraq following her divorce and met Max, an archaeologist. Christie pursued her own interest in the subject and became well known in the field. She died in 1976 at the age of 85 having kept writing to the end.
In the 2nd half of the evening there was a Q and A with questions from the audience. We learnt something about Lucy Worsley’s day job as chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces as well as her views on the lessons we learn or not from history amongst many other topics.
Our November theatre trip was “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and in December we are going to see “Six” at Milton Keynes Theatre.
Our next programme has just been finalised and starts with our annual Christmas Social. In January we are planning a Quiz. For February we have tickets for the “Pun Championships,” part of Leicester Comedy Festival. In March we have tickets for “ Girl from the North Country” at Curve.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact our new membership secretary, Alison for further information. alison.polydor@gmail.com or 07947256154.
Membership of NALT is open to all Journal readers. There are 3 pick up points in Littlethorpe and Narborough or you can use your own transport to the venue.