Murder, mystery and a call for Costa del Sol actors as Salón Varietés prepares to reopen

Salón Varietés Theatre in Fuengirola is getting ready to welcome audiences back after its summer break, and local performers now have the chance to become part of its next big murder mystery.

Auditions have been announced for Agatha Christie’s The Hollow, which will take to the Salón Varietés stage in November 2026 under the direction of Lynn Halliday.

Anyone with an interest in acting is being encouraged to come forward, with performers of all experience levels welcome to audition.

Auditions announced for Agatha Christie classic

Auditions will take place on Sunday, September 6, from 12pm to 3pm at Salón Varietés Theatre in Fuengirola. Potential cast members should contact director Lynn Halliday by WhatsApp on +34 600 01 20 85 to register their interest and receive an allocated audition time. Copies of audition pieces will also be available, meaning performers can prepare in advance if they wish.

November’s production will run from Wednesday, November 4 to Sunday, November 8, giving Costa del Sol audiences five chances to experience one of Christie’s classic mysteries.

A country house, a swimming pool and a killer

Agatha Christie’s The Hollow brings together an eccentric group of relatives and friends at the country estate belonging to Sir Henry and Lady Lucy Angkatell. What begins as an apparently civilised weekend soon turns into something much darker. Old romances, jealousy, secret affairs and complicated relationships create plenty of reasons for the guests to distrust one another. A confrontation beside the swimming pool ends with a body and a room full of possible suspects.

Inspector Colquhoun arrives to investigate, while Detective Sergeant Penny assists with the case. Almost everyone has something to hide, but working out exactly what happened is another matter.

Christie adapted The Hollow for the stage from her 1946 novel. The play opened in London’s West End in 1951 and has since become a popular choice for amateur and professional theatre groups.

Twelve roles up for grabs

A cast of 12 characters is required for the Salón Varietés production. Roles include artistic and aristocratic Henrietta Angkatell, practical Midge Harvey, intense but humorous Inspector Colquhoun, bookish Edward Angkatell and the charming but rather vague Lady Angkatell.

John Cristow is a dynamic and brusque character, while his wife Gerda is described as timid and insecure. Veronica Craye is a prominent actress with a striking appearance. Sir Henry Angkatell, butler Gudgeon, Detective Sergeant Penny and maid Doris complete the principal cast.

No previous professional theatre experience is required. Performers and directors are volunteering their time for the production, reflecting the community-based nature of Salón Varietés.

A Costa del Sol theatre with 40 years behind it

Salón Varietés has recently celebrated its 40th birthday on the Costa del Sol in 2026, having become a familiar part of Fuengirola’s cultural scene for generations of residents and visitors.

Its English-language productions have long attracted an international audience, with local performers, backstage volunteers and supporters helping to keep the theatre running as a non-profit cultural association.

Christie productions have become something of an annual tradition at the venue, following previous performances including The Mousetrap, And Then There Were None, Black Coffee and Murder on the Nile.

Last year’s Murder on the Nile was also directed by Lynn Halliday and formed part of the theatre’s 40th-anniversary celebrations.

Salón Varietés is already preparing for the new season, 2026/27, with its official programme showing productions scheduled from September onwards. The theatre describes itself as Fuengirola’s English-speaking theatre and operates from September to May.

For aspiring actors on the Costa del Sol, September’s audition could therefore be a chance to do more than simply watch the theatre reopen for another season. It could put them right in the middle of the next murder mystery.