Eastbourne Theatres are delighted to announce the return of the phenomenally successful Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, back by popular demand, this time to the Devonshire Park Theatre from 8th – 13th June.
Set in the Great Hall of Monkswell Manor, in what Christie described as “the present”, a group of people gather, cut off by the snow, and discover to their horror that there is a murderer in their midst. Who can it be? One by one the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts until at the last, nerve shredding moment the identity and the motive are finally revealed.
When The Mousetrap opened on 25th November 1952 with Richard Attenborough and his fellow film-star and beloved wife Sheila Sim in the leading roles, it was only seven years since Hitler died. Much essential food was still rationed, Mr Winston Churchill was Prime Minister, Harry Truman was President of the United States, and Stalin was ruler of Russia. There was fighting in Korea, and Princess Elizabeth began her long reign as Queen. The last tram ran in London, television programmes ended at 10.30pm, and the entire TV listings only occupied three and a half lines. In April 2015, the West End production celebrated 26,000 performances.
Anne Kavanagh returns to Eastbourne as Mrs Boyle, this time joined by Hester Arden (Macbeth, Orange Tree Theatre) as Miss Casewell, Edward Elgood as Christopher Wren, Mark Homer (Eastenders’ Tony Hill) as Giles Ralston, Esther McAuley (I Promise You Sex and Violence, Northern Stage) as Mollie Ralston and Jonathan Sidgwick (Hollyoaks; Coronation Street) as Mr Paravicini. William Ilkley joins from the West End production of The Mousetrap as Major Metcalf alongside Luke Jenkins as Sgt Trotter (The Mousetrap, 2014 tour).
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap appears at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne from Monday 8th until Saturday 13th June. Tickets priced fro £19, with concessions available, can be booked by calling the box office on 01323 412000 or online at www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk.
