You have to be something very special to become the longest running play in the world, and that’s precisely what THE MOUSETRAP is – special and the longest running.
I think what makes the show so great is the original book it came from, by Agatha Christie, is as readable today as it ever was. And let’s be honest, we all love a good whodunnit.
As news spreads of a murder in London, a group of seven strangers find themselves snowed in at a remote countryside guesthouse. When a police sergeant arrives, the guests discover – to their horror – that a killer is in their midst! One by one, the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts. Which one is the murderer? Who will be their next victim? Can you solve this world-famous mystery for yourself?
Incidentally, The Mousetrap was also the very first theatrical piece to re-open in the UK at the end of the first lockdown, with all the usual restrictions in place.
You can take a look at the current tour trailer HERE.
So, with a 70th anniversary to celebrate, there’s no better way to do it than take the show on the road and visit 70 venues across the UK and Ireland. It’s been out for a while ow and gets to the Swansea Grand this week.
The full casting has been announced for this mammoth tour and for TV fans, you’re in for a real treat. The show is not only a whodunit but a real who’s who of the small screen. Just a note however, this casting is only through to May, so there may be a change by the time the show gets to Swansea.
TODD CARTY (EastEnders, Grange Hill, Dancing on Ice) plays Major Metcalf and CATHERINE SHIPTON (Duffy in Casualty) as Mrs. Boyle.
All tour photos are by MATT CROCKETT.
The rest of the cast includes – RACHEL DAWSON (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) as Mollie Ralston, MICHAEL LYLE (Eastenders & The History Boys) as Giles Ralston, ESHAUN MCCOURT as Christopher Wren (The Windsors & Blood Brothers), LEIGH LOTHIAN (The Lovely bones & Beautiful) as Miss Casewell. GARYN WILLIAMS as Detective Sgt. Trotter. Garyn actually trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. As did STEVEN ELLIOTT who played Mr Paravicini. Steven is also an Associate Learning Practitioner for the RSC and Associate Artist at Theatre Clwyd. Welcome home both of you.
To help you on your way with this remarkable show we’ve put together the South Wales Life guide to the main characters. We’ve made it so you can download to your device and read after the show – we don’t want to add any spoilers here.
The genre-defining murder mystery from Agatha Christie, the world’s best-selling novelist of all time, will open at the Theatre Royal Nottingham, where it held its original world premiere in 1952. The iconic thriller will then visit over 70 venues across the country, including all cities to which it originally played 70 years ago.
We reckon it’s around 10 years since Todd played in a show in South Wales (prior to this run). He toured with the hilarious ‘Spamalot‘ which got to the Wales Millennium Centre in 2013. Back then he said…..
“I remember my agent telling me as a kid that the secret to this business was stickability. And luckily I’ve managed to stick around.
“It’s funny, I can always tell how old people are from what they call me,” Todd says. “If they’re over 35 they call me Tucker. If they’re under 35 they call me Mark Fowler.
I guess now we can also add his ‘Dancing On Ice’ routine to that list.
This 70th anniversary tour of The Mousetrap is directed by IAN TALBOT OBE who was Artistic and Managing Director of The Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park until 2008. Since then he’s turned out some incredible shows including – Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Shirley Valentine and the UK tour of White Christmas. The tour is produced by ADAM SPIEGEL and SIR STEPHEN WALEY-COHEN.
This 70th Anniversary tour marks the first of many ways that The Mousetrap will be celebrating its extraordinary milestone year.
Following its 1952 premiere touring production, The Mousetrap opened in the West End where still to this day, it continues its record-breaking engagement at the St Martin’s Theatre having been performed there over 28,500 times, selling over 10 million tickets.
The full tour schedule is below, in case you have the desire to catch it on all 70 venues. THE MOUSETRAP is at the New Theatre in Cardiff through to Saturday 18th March. More details and tickets and prices can be had HERE.
The tour is at the Grand Theatre in Swansea through to Saturday 30th September. Tickets and details can be had HERE.
The full tour schedule is below, all the listing and tickets details can be had on The Mousetrap website HERE.
