Akhnaton - Play

An enlightened pharaoh falls foul of his conservative court when he attempts to unite the polytheist Egyptians under one god – a course of action that forces factions of both the army and priesthood to turn against him. Undeterred, Akhnaton’s vision of a kingdom where people dwell in peace, truth, love and beauty will ultimately destroy him and all those he holds dear. Regarded as one of her most extraordinary plays, this epic historical drama is unlike anything you have read of Christie’s before.

Akhnaton shows a profound understanding of the mores and character of an enlightened Pharaoh who fell foul of his conservative court. One of Christie’s most profound and daring works.

Daily Express

Agatha Christie wrote the play in 1937 for her own enjoyment and it allowed her to indulge in her fascination with ancient history. It was Howard Carter, the discoverer of Tutankhamun’s tomb, who first introduced Agatha Christie to the legend on which the story is based. The story involves the Pharaoh Ahknaton, his wife Nefertiti and his successor Tutankhnaton (later to take the name Tutankhamun). Agatha Christie was assisted in her research by prominent Egyptologist and friend of the family, Stephen Glanville, who would help with the writing of her only other historical work, the novel Death Comes as the End.