The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Uncovered!

Monday, 23 March 2026, 9.30-3.30
Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Rd, Torquay TQ1 1HG

Please note that this event is open to Torbay-based schools and colleges only. Recommended for students aged 14 and up (Years 10-13).

Agatha Christie experts, Dr Mark Aldridge and Gray Robert Brown, will guide students through an exciting day looking at Christie’s masterpiece, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd [1926]. Mark and Gray speak regularly at the Literary Festival, and their events invariably sell out. Mark is Associate Professor of Screen Histories at Solent University, and an Agatha Christie historian and speaker. His books include Agatha Christie's Marple: Expert on Wickedness, Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World, and Agatha Christie on Screen. Gray is a lifelong Christie fan and a writer. He has been published by Puffin Audio and his plays have been read at the Southwark Playhouse, the Old Red Lion and the Place Bedford. Together they host the popular Swinging Christies podcast that discusses and analyses the books written by Christie in the 1960s. Visit: christietime.com

As well as being an A-level set text, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a tour de force of detective fiction, and the perfect distilled example of a ‘whodunnit’ mystery. 100 years after its publication in 1926, it remains a key aspect of Christie’s enduring legacy to the world of crime fiction and literature in general. During this day, students will learn all about Christie and the genre she perfected, and dive deep into the novel’s world, themes, and context. In an informal yet vibrant environment, this is a unique opportunity for students to learn from and engage with two experts in the field of Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie’s novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is part of Elements of Crime Writing, a module within the English Literature GCSE A Level curriculum. Whether or not your school has chosen this particular module for your students, this inspiring and practical workshop will help set the pace for critical thinking about English language fiction.

Each participating student will receive a free copy of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd as pre-reading ahead of 23 March, kindly supported by publisher HarperCollins.

Numbers are limited so please do get in touch if you are interested in sending some of your students to join us - free of charge - at Torquay Museum. A sandwich lunch will be provided. For further information or to reserve places, please contact admin@iacf-uk.org

This project is part of Agatha Christie Festival’s charitable commitment to working with local young people to improve literacy and foster a love of reading.