A MURDER mystery by the duo behind hit American detective series Murder She Wrote and Columbo will be staged in Wirral next year.

Rehearsal For Murder, by Richard Levinson and William Link, is at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton from March 14-19. 

It is about Alex Dennison, a playwright left heartbroken when his fiancée and leading lady Monica Welles is found dead from an apparent suicide after the opening night of her stage debut.

On the anniversary of that ill-fated night, Alex assembles the same cast and crew in the same theatre, for a reading of his new play.

As the reading progresses, the play's similarity to actual events becomes increasingly uncomfortable for the participants, and it soon becomes clear that Alex believes Monica was murdered and his new play is a devious cat-and-mouse chase to uncover her killer...

Adapted for the stage by David Rogers, Classic Thriller Theatre Company's production features Robert Daws, Amy Robbins, Susan Penhaligon, Robert Duncan and Ben Nealon. 

Joining them are former Brookside actor Steven Pinder and Lucy Dixon, who appeared in BBC school drama Waterloo Road and Channel Four soap Hollyoaks.

Tickets are from the box office at www.floralpavilion.com or 666 0000.