British actor David Suchet, known to audiences worldwide as Hercule Poirot, celebrated 50 years in the acting profession last year. To mark the formidable milestone, he returns to Australia after 2014’s The Last Confession to tour his new stage show Poirot and More: A Retrospective. With journalist and broadcaster Jane Hutcheon joining him onstage, Suchet recounts important episodes from his life and career, liberally peppered with humorous asides and pitch-perfect evocations of a range of characters both fictional and real.

David Suchet in Poirot and More: A Retrospective. Photo © Ash Koek

The first half of the show deals with Suchet’s childhood and burgeoning talent, through to his early days at drama school and on to his success as Poirot. We learn that his first taste of the stage came when he was cast as an oyster in the school play, an experience that he clearly relished – instead of entering the auditorium with his back to the audience, in order to show off his costume, Suchet strode across the stage face forward, already seeking the spotlight. It’s touching to hear him recall times where teachers encouraged his talent – he was...