The 2019 UK Tour of The Mousetrap, the legendary and record-breaking murder mystery from Queen of Crime, Dame Agatha Christie, is currently making its way across the UK. The macabre play has gripped generations of theatre-goers in London’s West End has for almost 70 years – and now the historic whodunnit packed with twists and turns is being performed at a venue near you.
The Mousetrap is a theatrical phenomenon. It has been delighting audiences for 67 years, with the identity of the murderer remaining theatre’s best kept secret. It was first seen in Nottingham in 1952 starring Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim, and it went on to become the world’s longest-running stage production, following its West End transfer to The Ambassadors Theatre in 1952 and then St Martins in 1973 where it has been performed ever since. The Mousetrap has now been performed over 27,500 times in London, where it continues to prove popular with audiences and continues to run alongside the UK tour.
Directed by Gareth Armstrong, the timeless thriller returned to the road by popular demand in January 2019 and has been earning standout reviews from critics and public alike as it continues to visit more than 40 venues, travelling the length and breadth of the country. This is the second major national tour of the smash hit murder mystery following a record-breaking 60th anniversary debut in 2012.
Taking on the role of Mrs Boyle for the tour will be Gwyneth Strong until the Norwich performances taking on 8th to 13th July. From the 15th July at Malvern Festival Theatre, the role will be taken over by Susan Penhaligon until November 16th at Birmingham Alexandra Theatre.
Gwyneth Strong is best known for portraying the role of Rodney’s wife Cassandra in Only Fools And Horses. Other TV roles include Geraldine Clough in EastEnders, plus appearances in Silent Witness, Casualty, Doctors and Murder In Suburbia. She also has a host of stage credits including the UK tour of Our House, A Round-Heeled Woman in the West End, Ancient Lights for Hampstead Theatre, and Care for the Royal Court.
Gwyneth admits being part of The Mousetrap cast is a dream come true. She explained: “I have always wanted to perform in an Agatha Christie play and a period piece of theatre so this is the perfect fit. One of the things I really notice and admire from her body of work is that she is very good at writing interesting women. When you consider the time in which she was writing, that is quite fascinating.”
Susan Penhaligon is well-known for her role in the ITV drama Bouquet of Barbed Wire, and for playing Helen Barker in the ITV sitcom A Fine Romance. She also played Jean Hope in UK soap Emmerdale. She has toured the UK extensively with stage productions including The Importance of being Earnest, Cabaret, Rehearsal for Murder, And Then There Were None, The Constant Wife, Verdict and Dangerous Obsessions. Susan has also appeared on film in Top Dog, Citizen Versus Kane, Say that You Love Me, Say Hello to Yesterday and Private Road.
Gwyneth and Susan will be joined in the production by a host of respected actors, including David Alcock as Mr Paravicini, John Griffiths as Major Metcalf and Saskia Vaigncourt-Strallen as Miss Casewell. David Alcock has appeared in a host of touring productions and has also won theatrical awards in his native South Africa; John Griffiths has a strong performing pedigree with credits including The Sound of Music at the London Palladium and multiple productions for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre; while Saskia Vaigncourt-Strallen boasts appearances in Billy Elliott in the West End and the UK tour of Oklahoma.
The cast also includes Geoff Arnold (Detective Sgt. Trotter), Nick Biadon (Giles Ralston), Lewis Chandler (Christopher Wren) and Harriett Hare (Mollie Ralston).
UK Tour Dates:
Monday 17 to Saturday 22 June 2019 – NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL
Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 June 2019 – BRISTOL HIPPODROME
Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 June 2019 – STOKE REGENT THEATRE
Monday 1 to Saturday 6 July 2019 – BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL
Monday 8 to Saturday 13 July 2019 – NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
Monday 15 to Saturday 20 July 2019 – FESTIVAL THEATRE, MALVERN
Monday 22 to Saturday 27 July 2019 – BLACKPOOL GRAND
Monday 29 July to Saturday 3 August 2019 – BARNSTAPLE QUEENS THEATRE
Monday 5 to Saturday 10 August 2019 – BOURNEMOUTH PAVILION
Monday 12 August to Saturday 17 August – VENUE CYMRU, LLANDUDNO
Monday 19 to Saturday 24 August 2019 – MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
Monday 2 to Saturday 7 September 2019 – WOKING NEW VICTORIA THEATRE
Monday 9 to Saturday 14 September 2019 – PRINCESSS THEATRE TORQUAY
Monday 16 to Saturday 21 September 2019 – DARTFORD ORCHARD THEATRE
Monday 23 to Saturday 28 September 2019 – EASTBOURNE DEVONSHIRE PARK THEATRE
Monday 30 September to Saturday 5 October 2019 – NEW THEATRE, CARDIFF
Monday 7 to Saturday 12 October 2019 – POMEGRANATE THEATRE, CHESTERFIELD
Monday 14 to Saturday 19 October 2019 – KINGS THEATRE, PORTSMOUTH
Monday 21 to Saturday 26 October 2019 – WINDSOR THEATRE ROYAL
Monday 28 October to Saturday 2 November 2019 – GLASGOW THEATRE ROYAL
Monday 4 to Saturday 9 November 2019 – NEW THEATRE, PETERBOROUGH
Monday 11 to Saturday 16 November 2019 – THE ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM
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