The Agatha Christie whodunnit that became a record-breaker

THE MOUSETRAP is the world’s longest-running theatre show.

Agatha Christie’s whodunit has been thrilling crowds for nearly 65 years and a touring production is returning to Scotland this month. Producer Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen told Murray Scougall the Honest Truth about the play.

Where did the idea come from?

It was originally a radio play called Three Blind Mice, which was commissioned by the BBC for the 80th birthday of Queen Mary, who had asked for a “new Agatha Christie”.

When Agatha decided to make it into a full-length stage play it had to have a new title because there had recently been a play of the same name and her family came up with The Mousetrap, which of course is also the play within a play in Hamlet.

What are its royal connections?

As well as the original commission, the Queen Mother came to see it and correctly guessed the identity of the killer.

On the 50th anniversary, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were guests of honour and, after the performance, the entire cast was presented to them on stage in front of the audience of former cast members, including Lord Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim, the two original stars of the play.

What’s your involvement?

I was a director of the company that owned the theatre when Sir Peter Saunders, Agatha Christie’s producer, decided to retire and therefore sell his interest, and I was lucky enough that he offered it to me in 1994.

Why do you think it has enjoyed such longevity?

Agatha Christie was much more interested in the psychology of the people involved, and in the plotting and solving of the crime, than in the actual crime.

So there is nothing scary or gruesome and of course no bad language! It is suitable for everyone and it is a puzzle in which every audience member pits their wits against Dame Agatha’s skill. She usually defeats nearly all of them in their efforts to unravel the clues, true and false, which she scatters.

Why did it take so long to go on tour?

My predecessor was always nervous that it would discourage British audiences visiting London from coming to see the play there.

I decided we would make it a major event and have found that the tour has not reduced our London audience, which continues to be mostly British, with Americans the next largest nationality and the remaining quarter made up of dozens of nationalities.

Could the touring production now enjoy similar success?

The tour continues to attract large audiences, including on its return visits to places such as Edinburgh, and in theory it could go on indefinitely. But I think we will give it a rest after the end of this year.

Maybe finishing the 60th anniversary tour as our 65th year begins is long enough for now.

Any unusual facts about The Mousetrap?

Agatha gifted the play to her grandson for his ninth birthday.

It has four entries in the Guinness Book of Records, including the longest continuous run of any show in the world, the most durable actor (David Raven, who played Major Metcalf for 4575 performances from July 22, 1957, until November 23, 1968) and longest serving understudy (Nancy Seabrooke, who stood by as Mrs Boyle 6240 times until March 12, 1994 and actually played her 72 times).

Since the production opened in London, 442 actors and actresses have appeared in the play (and 256 understudies).

The Mousetrap returns to The King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, from October 17 to 22.