Witness for the Prosecution | London County Hall

Set in London County Hall,  the auditorium is the former debating chamber. Witness for the Prosecution follows Leonard Vole, accused of murdering a wealthy woman to inherit her fortune. Vole’s only hope is his wife Romaine, but her testimony takes an alarming turn. The play primarily takes place inside the courtroom, watching the trial take place. 

Derived from a short story written by Agatha Christie, originally titled Traitor Hands, the immersive London production has been running since 2017 and is currently in its 8th year at County Hall, and it’s no surprise why. 

There isn't a bad seat in the auditorium. All around the stage is an incredible view with actors passing by aisles near the front of the stage. Any chance to be involved in a performance is a draw in and Witness for the Prosecution offers just that, allowing audiences to book jury seats and giving them an opportunity to be a part of the narrative. 

The key to Witness of The Prosecution’s success lies in the talent of its creators, director Lucy Bailey and designer William Dudley. They recognise the potential of an old building as a setting for a play primarily set in a courtroom.

The beginning of the production does feel very word heavy with a lot of necessary information given to the audience in a short amount of time, which can feel quite overwhelming. However, once the trail begins, the story picks up and has everyone on the edge of their seats. 

Charlie Preston plays Leonard, making his West End debut. If this hadn’t been mentioned in the programme, you wouldn’t think twice about Preston being a regular leading man in the West End. His commanding presence and passion for leading the cast is exceptional. His portrayal of Vole is particularly noteworthy, and he has truly mastered the art of a murder mystery performance,without giving away any of the play’s twists and turns.

Lara Lemon is Romaine, the presumably loving wife. Lemon puts on a spectacular performance, she has everyone, audience and characters alike questioning everything being played out in front of them. She strides on stage instantly and keeps the audience engaged and on their toes the whole production. 

The most notable scene unfortunately cannot be expanded upon or it would give away the story, but the last moments of the show have everyone in the room gasping in shock. Another spine chilling moment is the first scene, once again to keep the allure of the show, it can’t be spoilt, yet all the air in the room felt sucked out watching Vole on the stage. 

If you’ve managed to remain unspoilt, trying to solve the case alongside the characters is a great deal of fun. Witness for the Prosecution is thought-provoking, spine chilling and will have you questioning everything you thought you knew during the trail unfolding in front of your very eyes. 

Witness for the Prosecution is currently booking up until October 2026.

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★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Pamela Raith