After what has been a tough few months for theatre, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The longest-running show in the world, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, has announced it will be running once again from 23rd October 2020.
The play, one of the first to reopen on the West End, has been a London landmark since 1952- so it is only right that it leads the way in the return of live theatre.
The Mousetrap is classic Agatha Christie: five guests are snowed in at a country hotel. A policeman arrives, warning of a murderer on the loose. One by one, the guests are investigated until a trap is laid to capture the killer. One of the play’s most endearing qualities is the tradition that no one who has seen the show ever reveals the murderer’s identity.
After its original stint at the Ambassadors Theatre, The Mousetrap moved to St Martin’s Theatre where it has been since 1974. The quaint venue has played host to more than 25,000 performances, so the recommencement of Agatha Christie’s classic play is very welcome news.
A five-stage roadmap for the performing arts sector was recently announced by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden. The guidelines will balance public safety and the importance of the arts, allowing us culture lovers to reignite our passion for live entertainment while adhering to social distancing regulations.
As well as this, a £1.57 billion support package was announced by Dowden earlier this week, after lobbying from cultural institutions on the brink of collapse.
Words by Tayler Finnegan.