The Mousetrap tickets

The world’s longest-running play

Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap is a London institution, having been performed continuously in the West End since 1952. 

It started life as a radio play written at the request of the BBC for Queen Mary, and holds the distinction of being the longest-running show in the world. The Mousetrap has performed through 14 different prime ministers’ terms in office, from Winston Churchill to Boris Johnson, and over 460 actors have appeared in the show. 

The Mousetrap tickets provide an authentic taste of theatre history. Just make sure you don’t spoil the ending for any future theatregoers! 

What is The Mousetrap play about?

 Young couple Mollie and Giles Ralston have set up a country guest house at Monkswell Manor, but their grand opening is upstaged by a grizzly murder nearby. Trapped by a snowstorm and with the killer heading their way, the residents and guests of Monkswell must figure out who is guilty.

With everyone a suspect, this ultimate whodunit has plenty of twists and turns to trap even the canniest crime fiction fans - and a surprise ending that has remained a secret for decades.

When did The Mousetrap open in London?

The Mousetrap first opened in London in 1952, and it has been thrilling West End audiences for as long as Queen Elizabeth has been on the throne. Its original West End home was the Ambassadors Theatre, and in 1974 it transferred to its current home, St Martins Theatre. 

Queen of Crime Agatha Christie wrote the whodunit as a gift for Queen Mary, airing on BBC radio on 30 May 1947 under the name Three Blind Mice. Christie is possibly the world’s most famous crime writer, having written over 60 murder mysteries and created the iconic characters of Poirot and Miss Marple. The Mousetrap had its world premiere at Theatre Royal, Nottingham in 1952, before touring the UK ahead of its West End debut on 25 November 1952. Christie famously stated in her autobiography that she initially expected The Mousetrap play to run for no more than eight months. 

Now in its 70th year, The Mousetrap is the longest-running show in the West End and in the world, beating Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, The Woman in Black and The Lion King. 

A record-breaking show that’s well worth seeing

The Mousetrap sets a new record at every curtain up. When you enter St Martins Theatre, you will see a large wooden tally which displays the exact performance number you are attending. The play currently exceeds 28,000 West End performances and its only extended closure was in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic forced all West End venues to shut. 

In its impressively long history, The Mousetrap has also hit a number of cast records. One of its original cast members, the late Deryk Guyler, still “performs” each night in a recorded radio news bulletin, whilst David Raven earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records as “Most Durable Actor” for his role as Major Metcalf at 4,575 performances between 1957 and 1968. Nancy Seabrooke also made it into the record books, racking up 15 years as an understudy in The Mousetrap. 

The Mousetrap cast at St Martins Theatre

The Mousetrap London cast currently features Sara Lessore as Mollie Ralston, George Banks as Giles Ralston, Jonathan Tynan-Moss as Christopher Wren, Sarah Whitlock as Mrs. Boyle, Philip Childs as Major Metcalf, Phoebe Sparrow as Miss Casewell, Rob Pomfret as Mr. Paravicini, and George Jones as Detective Sergeant Trotter. 

Casting for The Mousetrap traditionally changes every year, with a huge number of famous faces having appeared since its first West End performance. Richard Attenborough starred as the original Detective Sergeant Trotter, and stars including Patrick Stewart and Julie Walters performed in a special charity performance to mark the plays’ 60th anniversary - and 25,000th performance - in 2012. 

The Mousetrap keeps the secret in the West End

The Mousetrap has a brilliantly eccentric history, with its most well-known feature being the shock twist right at the end of the show. Audiences are asked to “preserve the tradition by keeping the secret locked in your hearts”, ensuring The Mousetrap’s intricate plot and compelling surprises remain just as exciting now as they were on opening night. 

There has never been a film adaptation of The Mousetrap, and it is unlikely to happen any time soon! The play’s contract states that no film can be made until it has been closed in the West End for at least six months. The production famously managed to move theatres in 1974, and install a brand new set in 2000, without losing a single performance - so the only way to see this thrilling murder mystery is by booking The Mousetrap London tickets. 

Book The Mousetrap tickets in London

An icon of the West End, The Mousetrap is one of the best London plays, and a must-see for any theatre-lover. Full of surprises, chills and thrills that remain just as sharp today as they were in 1952, this is an unmissable classic that continues to attract audiences from across the world.