Tickets have this week gone on-sale for the 70th Anniversary Australian production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, which holds the accolades at the world’s longest-running play, although obviously not in Australia. The production is due to commence at Theatre Royal Sydney from 8 October 2022 for a “limited season”, with no additional seasons announced at this time. This production is being produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia, who is behind many touring musical productions, and directed by Robyn Nevin.
Tickets can be purchased directly through Theatre Royal Sydney, or by calling their box office during business hours on 1300 163 808. Tickets are priced from $69.00, with increased prices indicating better seat reserves, vantage points or other perks.
The Mousetrap had its world premiere on 6 October 1952 at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham. After a brief tour, it opened in London’s West End on 25 November 1952 at the Ambassadors Theatre, where it ran until 23 March 1974. It immediately transferred to the larger St Martin’s Theatre next door, and continues to this day, with over 28,500 performances to date.
Agatha Christie originally wrote the story as a short radio play entitled Three Blind Mice, which was broadcast in 1947 as a birthday present for Queen Mary. She eventually adapted the work into a short story before again rewriting it for the stage as The Mousetrap. Ironically, Christie did not expect the play to run for more than a few months and stipulated that no film of The Mousetrap be made until at least six months after the West End Production closed. And here we are so many years into the future, without that film adaptation.
The Mousetrap follows the guests and staff at Monkswell Manor, who find themselves trapped inside due to a snow storm and the corpse of a local woman indicating a murder was afoot. It soon becomes clear that the killer is among them, and the seven strangers grow increasingly suspicious of one another. A police detective, arriving on skis, interrogates the suspects: the newlyweds running the house; a spinster with a curious background; an architect who seems better equipped to be a chef; a retired Army major; a strange little man who claims his car has overturned in a drift; and a jurist who makes life miserable for everyone. When a second murder takes place, tensions and fears escalate. This record-breaking murder mystery features a brilliant surprise finish from the foremost mystery writer of all time.
There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the news that The Mousetrap will be playing in Sydney. I’m so excited to present a new production of this enduring and much-loved murder mystery to Australian audiences, directed by Robyn Nevin. What better time to bring The Mousetrap to Australia as it celebrates its 70th anniversary. Will you solve the mystery and pick the murderer?
John Frost – Producer
