Before Juliet & Romeo: A Street Saga takes center stage for Homecoming, Hampton University invites audiences to a murder mystery where the suspects are suspicious, the characters are delightfully eccentric and the truth is anything but innocent.
HAMPTON, Va. (October 9, 2026) — Fancy a spot of murder with your afternoon tea? Hampton University Theatre is inviting audiences to put on their detective hats, sharpen their wits and prepare for a deliciously twisted tale of murder, courtroom drama and British intrigue with its production of Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution: A Pageantry Drama, running October 9–11 at the Little Theatre in Armstrong Hall.
With a cast of approximately 26 students and a crew of 15, this production promises a proper British whodunit filled with quirky characters, suspicious circumstances and enough courtroom drama to make even the most seasoned barrister raise an eyebrow. There’s a murder, a man on trial and a courtroom full of people who may not be quite who they claim to be. Everyone has a story. Everyone has a secret. And someone, somewhere, is telling a rather convincing lie.
Directed by Professor Xorlali Plange, the production offers audiences more than a traditional night at the theatre. It introduces Pageantry Drama, a visually driven theatrical approach that brings fashion, performance and scenic design together to create an immersive experience for the audience. The result is a feast for the eyes, a puzzle for the mind and a reminder that in a good murder mystery, appearances can be terribly deceiving.
“Pageantry Drama” brings a fresh dimension to the stage, allowing the visual language of costume, movement and scenery to work alongside the actors to deepen the storytelling. Through this approach, students are exploring how theatre can engage audiences not only through dialogue and character, but also through the atmosphere and aesthetics of a production.
For Professor Plange, the production is also an opportunity to bring students together across disciplines, demonstrating how collaboration can transform a theatrical experience. The work unites performers and production crew in a shared creative undertaking, with each element contributing to the mystery unfolding before the audience.
And what better way to kick off Hampton’s (pre) Homecoming season than with a little suspense before the festivities? While the University’s highly anticipated Juliet & Romeo: A Street Saga production is poised to bring its own theatrical excitement to Homecoming, Witness for the Prosecution offers an intriguing opening act: one where romance takes a back seat, alibis are questionable and the stakes are positively deadly.
Audiences should come prepared to question everything. Was justice served? Is the accused truly guilty? And can anyone in this courtroom be trusted? Christie built her reputation on keeping audiences guessing, and this production invites Hampton Pirates and the wider Hampton Roads community to join the investigation.
So, consider this your official summons. Dress for a date with drama, bring your sharpest suspicions and prepare for a murder mystery that is, quite literally, to die for.
WHAT: Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution: A Pageantry Drama
WHEN: October 9–11, 2026
WHERE: Little Theatre, Armstrong Hall, Hampton University
DIRECTOR: Professor Xorlali Plange
For more information about the production, contact Hampton University Theatre.
About Hampton University
Founded in 1868, Hampton University is one of the nation’s strongest Historically Black Colleges and Universities and a prestigious Carnegie R2-designated research institution. For more than 150 years, Hampton has prepared world-ready leaders of character and consequence through a distinctive educational experience grounded in academic excellence, leadership, innovation, and service.
Home to students from 44 states and 32 countries and territories, the University is nationally recognized for groundbreaking research in atmospheric science, cancer research, cybersecurity, marine and environmental science, and other disciplines that address society’s most pressing challenges. With an annual economic impact of $515 million across the Commonwealth of Virginia, Hampton continues to advance discovery, strengthen communities, and prepare graduates to lead with purpose in an increasingly interconnected world. Learn more at www.hamptonu.edu.
