- The Mousetrap opened at the West End on 25 November 1952 at the Ambassadors Theatre. On 23 March 1974, it transferred to St. Martin's Theatre.
- Ever since, the show has run continuously at the St. Martin's Theatre, only closing briefly in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It re-opened on 17 May 2021 and has been playing to date.
- The play is a murder mystery by Agatha Christie, which began as a radio play that Christie wrote as a birthday present for Queen Mary, the consort of King George V.
- It takes inspiration from the real-life story of Dennis O'Neill, who died after suffering from extreme abuse in foster care in 1945.
- For a mystery play to remain on stage for so many decades is quite a surprise, since every day the audiences get to know the identity of the murderer. But, famously, at the end of each run, the audiences are asked to keep the secret: it seems to work!
Longest Running West End Shows
The Longest Running West End Shows that You Can Catch in London
Numerous shows debut at the West End every year, and hundreds of thousands of people come to watch these performances. Some remain for a short run while others may remain the entire season. Some special shows even keep coming back, especially holiday-oriented shows like Christmas pantomimes. But, there are only a handful of shows that remain a constant at the West End, entertaining audiences for decades. These longest-running West End shows are in a league of their own. So hurry and get your tickets to these shows, it’s an experience worth getting!
