The Mousetrap postpones West End reopening over lockdown uncertainty

The Mousetrap has postponed plans to begin socially distanced West End performances in October.

The Mousetrap is famous around the world for being the longest running show of any kind in the history of British theatre.

After performances were halted in March amid lockdown restrictions, the play previously announced plans to resume from October 23.

The show was meant to be presented with social distancing measures on stage, backstage and in the audience with a capacity of 200.

However producer Adam Spiegel today announced: “In view of the current uncertainty and with greater restrictions looming for London, I have had to make the difficult decision to postpone the reopening of The Mousetrap.

“When we took the decision in July that the show would reopen, it was in anticipation of a gradual easing of restrictions in general. The government’s announcement last week that the situation is deteriorating, together with increased restrictions being imposed across the country, makes it impossible to proceed with confidence.

“As the custodian of the show, I am deeply saddened to have to make this decision. But The Mousetrap will be back, and a new date to reopen will be announced as soon as there is a more certain environment and subject to government guidelines.”

Those who have purchased tickets will be contacted.

A new reopening date has not yet been set.

The cast was to be made up of Eleanor McLoughlin, Neil Ditt, Alexander Wolfe, Brenda Longman, Damien Matthews, Lizzie Muncey, Tony Timberlake and Paul Hilliar.

The Mousetrap is the iconic murder mystery play. The scene is set when a group of people gathered in a country house cut off by the snow 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.

In her own inimitable style, Dame Agatha Christie has created an atmosphere of shuddering suspense and a brilliantly intricate plot where murder lurks around every corner.