Why See The Mousetrap?
now in its 70th year
In 1952, Agatha Christie's sprawling and intricate new whodunnit, The Mousetrap (based on her radio play, Three Blind Mice), opened in the West End on a very strict condition; no audience or press member was to ever give away the plot of the show!
Christie herself was not altogether positive as to the play's run, giving it eight months 'at most', so perhaps her edict seemed fair at the time. But it is a testament to theatre audiences that The Mousetrap has endured at St. Martin's Theatre, running for an incredible seventy years to date. To put that into perspective, when the show first played, Winston Churchill was Prime Minister, London still suffered from the Great Smog, the NHS was just four years old, and Dame Vera Lynn dominated the hit parade!
sssshhhh!
Seven decades have done nothing to dull The Mousetrap, the story of an odd assortment of guests snowed in at Monkswell Manor, whilst a murderer is at large and en-route. But could they be already here? When bodies start showing up, it's up to the stranded group to solve the mystery, before they become a part of it?
Did you know?
Wonder why you haven't seen the film? The secrecy around the plot wasn't the only condition laid down by Dame Agatha. A film adaptation is only allowed six months after the West End production closes, and given that it has been going strong for nearly seventy years without any sign of ending, that doesn't look all that likely any time soon!
Additional Information
Dates
Opening night: 25 March 1974
Audience
The Mousetrap is recommended age for children is 12 years and up. Young children are admitted but not encouraged unless the parent is confident that the child is old enough to be attentive to the performance and not a distraction for other members of the audience. Everyone must have a valid ticket and occupy a seat. Accompanying adults will be asked to remove any noisy infants.
Run time
Two hours 15 minutes with one 15-minute intermission
And before you stop reading
COVID 19 SECURE
You may be required to have had a COVID vaccine in order to attend this performance or show proof of a negative test. Please contact the venue directly for more information on this.
Cast and Creative
Cast
Nicole Agada as Mollie Ralston
Daniel Fraser Giles Ralston
Elliot Clay as Christopher Wren
Nicola Blackman as Mrs. Boyle
Damien Matthews as Major Metcalf
Sarah Moss as Miss Casewell
Philip Voyzey as Mr Paravicini
Sam Ebenezer as Detective Sergeant Trotter
Understudies
Essie Barrow as Miss Casewell and Mollie Ralston Understudy
Stefan Gough as Christopher Wren Understudy
Jason Hall as Major Metcalf and Mr. Paravicini Understudy
Pamela Hardman as Mrs. Boyle Understudy
Clive Marlowe as Major Metcalf and Mr. Paravicini Understudy
Phoebe Newlan as Miss Casewell and Mollie Ralston Understudy
Richard Parnwell as Detective Sergeant Trotter and Giles Ralston Understudy
Ben Riddle as Detective Sergeant Trotter and Giles Ralston Understudy
Creative
Written by Agatha Christie
Directed by Ian Talbot
Artistic Director Denise Silvey
Costume Supervisor Janet Hudson Holt
Producer Adam Spiegel
Producer Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen
Original Producer Sir Peter Saunders
Company Stage Manager Graham Ray
Deputy Stage Manager Helen Cobb
Deputy Stage Manager (dep) James Hamilton
What you thought
10 reviews, average rating: (3.7 Stars)
C Reidy: “Suspense to the end”
Lovely quaint theatre excellent actors /actresses truly didn't work out... more
Marian: “fun, a bit daft, very well done. ”
I'm not a huge fan of Christie, but this play delivered. It was much fun,... more
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