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New Vic Theatre, Newcastle Under Lyme – until Saturday 28th January 2023

Reviewed by Lesley Eagles

3***

The unique setting being a ‘theatre in the round’ means that you immediately feel immersed in the story from the outset.

The story begins on the family barge with a short bobbed, brown haired Alice rather than the more traditional version that you may be more familiar with.

Echoes of the story being set in the heart of Stoke are created with the surrounding imagery being that of smoking pottery kilns.

Alice, played by Eleanor Fransch, is a young girl who is extremely inquisitive asking an incessant amount of questions. Her character is likeable and irritating in equal measures, much like most children you meet! She displays the innocence and naivety of a young girl but also the know-it-all attitude that also comes with a child of that age who is learning to navigate life in a confusing adult world.

The barge soon turns into a street market stall where Alice meets a magician, The Great Blanco. An outstanding performance is given by Peter Watts who also plays the part of the White Rabbit. It is here that Alice begins her journey into a wonderland of adventure.

Alice follows the magician into a theatre where she finds herself tumbling through a trap door (rather than a rabbit hole) that she had been warned about on more than one occasion. Obviously In true child like fashion she had chosen to ignore this advice.

From here she goes on to meet an array of eccentric and entertaining characters, where she is often confused and battles to understand what is reality and what is fantasy.

What sold it to me was the versatility and clever design in which the story was told with many means of storytelling and outstanding puppetry of many styles. The shrinking and growing of Alice left the little girl in front of me in awe and I was equally entertained by her wonderful response.

The creative team have outdone themselves as the use of staging and props allowed fluidity throughout.

Purvi Parmar delivers an enthusiastic and determined performance of a vicious Red Queen threatening to behead her subjects and as a result gained the dislike of her audience. Opposite her, Victoria Brazier offered a beautiful vocal performance as the White Queen.

Danielle Bird plays the part of the mad hatter who, during the tea party, delivered a nonsense song with a great response from the audience, both young and old alike, who were thoroughly entertained.

In what was a magical performance, quite how they managed to overcome the challenges of performing some of the illusions in a theatre in the round is beyond me! However credit goes to Darren Lang for making it happen.

As always Theresa Heskins’ remarkable directorial style brings together a super performance from all those involved.

Although at times I found the story confusing, it is much like the original, nonsensical story which emphasises the many bewildering twists and turns of life in an often crazy adult world

Wonderfully entertaining and a truly magical performance

EMPIRE THEATRE, LIVERPOOL – FRIDAY 25TH NOVEMBER 2022

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

4****

Following the success of last year’s Handel’s Messiah Concert, the Glyndebourne Tour returned this autumn with performances across the country, giving audiences the opportunity to enjoy world class opera on their doorstep and making opera more accessible to people all over the UK. The Tour, founded in 1968, enables the company to take operatic productions around the country and today Glyndebourne reaches around 150 000 people a year with over 120 live performances and extends to new audiences with digital innovations such as online streamings.

Last night I had the chance to watch one of three Operas currently entertaining audiences at the Empire Theatre, a double bill of The Anonymous Lover by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges and Mozart’s Requiem concert. Also being performed during their tour at the Empire is Michael Grandage’s popular 2012 staging of Mozart’s classic comedy The Marriage of Figaro and Dutch Director Floris Visser’s brand new production of Puccini’s La bohème.

Last night’s special concert of instrumental and vocal works, pairs music by French composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges with that of his better-known contemporary and rival Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Writer and director Simone Ibbett-Brown brilliantly created the production in part 1. It cleverly tells the story of composer Joseph Bologne’s extraordinary life through readings of his powerful diaries, interwoven with the narrative and music from his most successful and lone surviving opera, The Anonymous Lover (first performed in 1780). Baritone, Luthando Qave as Ophèmon and Soprano, Mariam Battistelli as Jeanette, gave an outstanding performance last night, leaving the audience with goose bumps.

The Glyndebourne Chorus takes the limelight in part 2 with Mozart’s legendary Requiem, which was unfinished at the time of his death in 1791. The beautiful and haunting Requiem in D minor is one of Mozart’s great musical works, not only is it a masterpiece but it carries with it much speculation and myth. Along with the splendid sound of the Glyndebourne orchestra conducted by Stephanie Childress and first-class vocals, there were superlative solo performances by Soprano, Alexandra Lowe and Bass, William Thomas. You could hear the audience gasping in wonderment at their sublime voices. The multi sectioned movement Sequentia is filled with vivid and often terrifying imaginary, dramatic stuff indeed. Sequentia: Confutatis and Sequentia: Lacrimosa are my favourite movements, and they did not disappoint!

Fifty four years later and The Glyndebourne Tour is still fulfilling Sir George Christie’s original vision and giving audiences varied ways to experience exceptional operas, most definitely making the Tour no ordinary opera!

Leeds Playhouse – until 28 January 2022

Reviewed by Dawn Smallwood

5*****

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical comes to Leeds Playhouse for the festive season. The musical invites one into a world of imagination of Charlie’s plight and Willy Wonka’s confectionery wonders at his chocolate factory. The musical is based on David Greig’s book with Marc Shaiman’s musical composition and his and Scott Wittman’s lyrics.

Charlie (Amelia Minto) is introduced, and one observes the harsh reality of a family whose resilience to survive is supported by Charlie’s creative will to dream and hope for better things to come. Charlie’s creativity and optimism ripples through the family and is particularly encouraged to pursue this by Grandpa Joe (Michael D’Cruze). Fate suddenly changes when Charlie wins the last golden ticket to be invited to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory where it deems a once in a lifetime opportunity to be astonished and to reaffirm the belief that is seen.

Accompanied by four other spoilt children and their parents, Charlie and Grandpa Joe embarks on a tour of the factory by none other than the eccentric Willy Wonka (Gareth Snook), whose unrestricted creations imagine the unimagined. Supported by Simon Higlett’s stunning and eye-catching staging and Simon Wainwright’s visuals, the musical is combined effectively with Mike Walker’s soundscapes, Chris Fisher’s illusions and Tim Mitchell’s lighting. This contributes to creative story telling as stipulated in Roald Dahl’s narration of the characters and the plot.

The musical numbers by Wittman and Shaiman and is set to the latter’s composition unravels the story from A letter From Charlie Bucket to the prophetic You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet/It Must Be Believed to be Seen and to the fulfilment of Pure Imagination.

The cast perfectly portrays the characters which is led by Minto’s Charlie and Snook’s Willy Wonka. The excellent and talented cast are supported by the company and the creative team combined with James Brining’s direction, Ellen Campbell’s musical equivalent and Emily Jane Boyle’s choreography.

A combination of chocolate and candy are being imagined physically and figuratively as these are the perfect ingredients to make this musical a sweet success. One is transfixed from the start and transported to escapism throughout. Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical is a joy of “pure imagination” and a pleasure to view and consume the spectacular.

Hull New Theatre – 24th November 2022

Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams

3***

Nobody, presented by Motionhouse, is billed as “A dance-circus adventure” and whilst there are incredibly acrobatic feats within it, the contemporary dance is outstanding and is the key to the performance. Kevin Finnan the Artistic Director of Motionhouse has created a piece which will stay with you for a long time.

Nobody is broken into two acts, in the first act we see the characters coping with everyday life and struggling to cope with their inner voices, represented by crows. At the start of the second act the characters are at their lowest ebb, drowning in all that life has thrown at them, but by working together they discover their own strength and leave the crows behind. Kevin Finnan’s work was developed during the covid lockdown and draws on the experiences of those times.

All of the dancers work as an ensemble, playing both crows and the everyday characters. The trust that these dancers need to have in each other is amazing as they drop from a height or are thrown around. Together they created human staircases to enable a character to climb to safety and hung from scaffolding pipes while another performer climbed across them, their core strength was outstanding. The dancing is beautiful with the dancers’ arms and legs creating wonderful lines and conjuring up so much emotion. The crows were beautifully portrayed, menacing and dark as they prowled the city. The angst of the characters poured off the stage as they struggled with life, negativity was rife throughout the stage. Particularly poignant was when some of the performers stood alone in a busy bar while everyone else was partying.

The set is created by projections which are not interactive but rely on the dancers moving the set on the right timings, this resulted in some quite jaw dropping backdrops and scene changes. There was not one point where the change seemed forced and what the dancers could do with that large cube was stunning to watch. The soundtrack to the piece was insistent and added to the emotions on stage, feeding into the fears and anxieties of the dancers.

This is a visually stunning, beautifully danced performance with some utterly jaw dropping moments, music and scenery being equal in creating the atmosphere. However, it is also a deeply disturbing and very depressing performance, the negativity created in the theatre was huge, although it is lifted to some extent in the second act. Kevin Finnan has succeeded in creating a very thought-provoking piece

The Grand Opera House, York – until 3rd December 2022

Reviewed by Katie Brewerton

4****

Pick Me Up Theatre’s production of Nativity: The Musical comes to York, based on the festive, fan favourite film ‘Nativity’ starring Martin Freeman.

After being left by his partner, Jennifer (Toni Feetenby) around Christmas, to pursue a career as a Hollywood film producer, Paul Maddens (Stuart Piper) loses his love for the holidays. He works at St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School and has vowed never to direct another nativity after his last attempt received a minus 2 star review.

His and Jennifer’s old best friend Gordon Shakespeare (Stuart Hutchinson) teaches at the local private school, Oakmoor and has received the coveted 5 star review from Patrick Burns (Jonny Holbek) a well known local critic for the past few years.

Mr. Maddens finds himself forced in to directing this years nativity by headmistress Mrs. Bevan (Alison Taylor), with the help of new teaching assistant Mr. Poppy (Jack Hooper). He bumps into Gordon Shakespeare and exaggerates the extravagance of their nativity, even telling him Jennifer is attending, with Hollywood to film St. Bernadette’s Nativity. He is over heard by Mr. Poppy who quickly tells the whole school and city.

Now Mr. Maddons and Mr. Poppy must try and convince Hollywood to attend or face up to their lie.

The technical issues with microphones not working did unfortunately take away from the show at certain points, but hopefully that will be rectified for future performances. The staging was great with excellent lighting and children even hanging from the ceiling for the final performance of the Nativity.

With a wonderful, talented cast of children this is an excellent family friendly alternative to the traditional Christmas panto. And the adult cast are also great particularly Hooper’s Mr.Poppy who is lovable and a fast audience favourite. Funny, feel good and heart warming this is a lovely story to get you in the mood for Christmas.

MIND MANGLER: MEMBER OF THE TRAGIC CIRCLE 

WEST END PERFORMANCES NOW ON SALE 

TOURING THE UK FROM JANUARY 2023 

STARRING HENRY LEWIS & JONATHAN SAYER 

The ‘Mind Mangler’ persuaded the following producers to back this production: Kenny Wax, Stage Presence and Kevin McCollum. (They regret it). 

TOURING THE UK FROM 7 JANUARY 

SELECT SUNDAYS IN THE WEST END 
GARRICK THEATRE 

Sunday 15 January at 7pm | Sunday 5 February at 3pm & 7pm | Sunday 26 March at 7pm 

Olivier award-winning comedy favourites, Mischief, today announce extra dates for their first ever UK Tour of Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle, including select Sunday performances at the Garrick Theatre in the West End and a preview performance at Mountview. Mind Mangler is the latest Mischief comedy written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, the writing (and performing) trio best known for the global phenomenon The Play That Goes Wrong and the BBC comedy series The Goes Wrong Show. 

In response to sold out performances at the Edinburgh Fringe, Mind Mangler has now been developed into a two-act show for a major UK tour, starring Henry Lewis as the ‘Mind Mangler’ and Jonathan Sayer as his ‘Stooge’. 

Join the ‘Mind Mangler’ as he returns to the stage following a disappointing two-night run at the Luton Holiday Inn conference centre, suite 2b. His new solo spectacular is predicted to spiral into chaos as he attempts to read your mind…

Following a preview performance on Friday 6 January in London at The Mack Theatre at Mountview, the UK tour will open on Saturday 7 January at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, visiting a further twenty-three venues nationwide until 22 April 2023, with West End performances at the Garrick Theatre on Sunday 15 January, Sunday 5 February and Sunday 26 March 2023. All venues are now on sale. 

Mischief’s other stage successes include The Play That Goes Wrong (West End, Broadway and on tour across the UK and internationally with productions staged on every continent – with the exception of Antarctica), Magic Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, A Comedy About A Bank Robbery and Mischief Movie Night. Their ‘Royal Television Society’ award-winning BBC One series The Goes Wrong Show aired in December 2019 with a Christmas special, with further episodes in early 2020, and a hit Nativity special last Christmas. The second series aired in September 2021 on BBC One and iPlayer. 

The Rep, Birmingham – until 7 January 2023

Reviewed by Julia Spargo

5*****

Christmas has exploded over Birmingham in a shower of confetti with the arrival of NATIVITY! The Musical, written and directed by Debbie Isitt.

Already a fan of Nativity, the 2009 film starring Martin Freeman, I was curious as to what to expect from a stage adaptation. The creator of both screen and stage productions, Debbie Isitt has kept the original plot; a love story, a rivalry between two local primary schools and the friendship between the unlikely pairing of teaching staff Mr Maddens and Mr Poppy, and added more songs, more jokes, and an energy that seems to pulsate off the stage.

From the initial number, “Here Comes Santa Claus (M.A.D.A)” to the finale of “Sparkle and Shine”, the musical is a burst of sheer exuberance. The ambitious set design changes settings seamlessly between the interior of Mr Maddens’ home, St Bernadette’s Primary School, Oakmoor Prep School, Hollywood and Coventry Cathedral. The lighting effects grab the attention, from Mr Poppy’s initial entrance using the spotlight in a gag, to a touching scene in which the audience is invited to use its phone torches to light the stage.

Ben Lancaster is hilarious as Desmond Poppy, the hapless but loveable new teaching assistant assigned to Mr Maddens’ class at St Bernadette’s. He brings an infectious joy to the stage in every scene.

“Herod the Rock Opera” features Matthew Rowland as a fabulously camp Mr Shakespeare in an Alice Cooper-esque pastiche that was lost on my children but I loved. It also picks the pace up after a slight lull in the beginning of Act II.

Special mention must go to each of the wardrobe team (Denis Blatchford, Michelle Shaw, Melanie Francis, Roanne Bray, Daisy Dunne, Chloe Fundak, Helen Reeves, Amelia Whittaker, Georgia Cooper and Andriea Nelson) for the sheer number of costume changes; there are at least thirty children in the cast with some very elaborate costumes.

If the spirit of Christmas has yet to grab you, or you find yourself feeling jaded by world events, get yourself to Birmingham Rep this December and revel in the fun. There’s even a cute dog in it.

UK TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

FOR

CURVE AND SADLER’S WELLS PRODUCTION

OF THE MUSICAL
42^nd STREET

OPENING AT

CURVE, LEICESTER ON

WEDNESDAY 17^th MAY 2023
FOLLOWED BY A SEASON AT SADLER’S WELLS

FROM WEDNESDAY 7^th JUNE 2023

David Ian for Crossroads Live UK and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions are delighted to announce that the Curve and Sadler’s Wells production of the musical 42^nd STREET will open at Curve, Leicester on Wednesday 17^th May 2023, followed by a season at Sadler’s Wells, London from Wednesday 7^th June 2023 before embarking on a UK tour visiting Canterbury, Leeds, Bristol, Plymouth, Cardiff, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Manchester, Southampton, Newcastle, Woking and Belfast. Tour schedule below with further dates to be announced. 42ndstreettour.com

This new production will be directed by Jonathan Church (Singin’ in the Rain, The Drifters Girl) with choreography and design by Olivier Award winners Bill Deamer and Rob Jones. Casting and full creative team will be announced in due course.

This iconic song-and-dance spectacular features a hit parade of toe-tapping songs, including the title number, “We’re In The Money”, “Lullaby of Broadway”, “Shuffle Off To Buffalo” and “I Only Have Eyes For You”. 42^nd STREET is a timeless and inspiring showbiz fairy tale that combines breath-taking tap dance routines, backstage intrigue, classic romance and delightful comedy to dazzling effect.

Fresh off the bus from small-town America, young and beautiful Peggy Sawyer arrives in New York City dreaming of her name in lights. She quickly catches the eye of a big-time director and lands a spot in the chorus line of Broadway’s newest show…and when the leading lady gets injured, Peggy gets her shot at stardom.

42^nd STREET is a larger-than-life, massively entertaining celebration of musicals and the irrepressible spirit of Broadway that’s guaranteed to lift anyone’s spirits. 

42^nd STREET has music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, based on the novel by Bradford Ropes. Original direction and dances were by Gower Champion. The show was originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick.

The use of all songs is by arrangement with Warner Bros. and EMI Publishing Ltd.

42^nd STREET 2023 TOUR
42ndstreettour.com

LISTINGS

Wednesday 17^th May – Saturday 3^rd June 2023
Leicester Curve Theatre
www.curveonline.co.uk
ON SALE NOW

Wednesday 7^th June – Saturday 2^nd July 2023
Sadler’s Wells
www.sadlerswells.com
ON SALE NOW

Thursday 13^th July – Saturday 22^nd July 2023
Canterbury, Marlowe Theatre
www.marlowetheatre.com
ON SALE NOW

Tuesday 25^th July – Saturday 29^th July 2023
Leeds Grand Theatre
www.leedsheritagetheatres.com
ON SALE NOW

Monday 31^st July – Saturday 5^th August 2023
Bristol Hippodrome
www.atgtickets.com/bristol-hippodrome
ON SALE 29^TH NOVEMBER

Monday 7^th August – Saturday 12^th August 2023
Plymouth Theatre Royal
www.theatreroyal.com
ON SALE NOW

Monday 14^th August – Saturday 19^th August 2023
Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre
www.wmc.org.uk
ON SALE 9^TH DECEMBER

Monday 21^st August – Saturday 26^th August 2023
Glasgow Theatre Royal
www.atgtickets.com/theatre-royal-glasgow
ON SALE 29^TH NOVEMBER

Monday 28^th August – Saturday 2^nd September 2023
Milton Keynes Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/milton-keynes-theatre
ON SALE SOON

Monday 4^th September – Saturday 9^th September 2023
Liverpool Empire
www.atgtickets.com/liverpool-empire
ON SALE SOON

Monday 25^th September – Saturday 30^th September 2023
Manchester Palace Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/palace-theatre-manchester
ON SALE SOON

Tuesday 3^rd October – Saturday 7^th October 2023
Mayflower, Southampton
http://www.mayflower.org.uk
ON SALE 12^TH DECEMBER

Tuesday 10^th October – Saturday 14^th October 2023
Newcastle Theatre Royal
https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/
ON SALE SOON

Monday 16^th October – Saturday 21^st October 2023
Woking, New Victoria Theatre
www.atgtickets.com/new-victoria-theatre
ON SALE SOON

Tuesday 24^th October – Saturday 28^th October 2023
Belfast, Grand Opera House
www.grandoperahouse.co.uk
ON SALE 28^TH NOVEMBER

FURTHER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED

CALL THE MIDWIFE’S

HELEN GEORGE

TO STAR AS ANNA IN MAJOR UK TOUR OF

MULTI TONY AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION

EMBARKS ON UK TOUR FROM JANUARY 2023

Music by RICHARD RODGERS

Book and Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II

Directed by Tony Award Winner BARTLETT SHER

“I doubt I will ever see a better production in my lifetime”

WALL STREET JOURNAL

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM KINGANDIMUSICAL.CO.UK

Helen George, known to millions for the past decade as Trixie in the hit BBC One series Call The Midwife, will star as Anna Leonowens in a major new UK tour of the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, beginning at Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre on 4 February. Having trained at the Royal Academy of Music and the Birmingham School of Acting, Helen’s musical theatre credits include Company, Love Never Dies and The Woman In White.

This gloriously lavish production will be brought to the stage by an internationally renowned creative team under Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher (South Pacific / My Fair Lady / To Kill a Mockingbird) and will feature a world-class company of over 50 talented performers and a full-scale orchestra.

Following a critically acclaimed Broadway smash-hit run, a sold-out season at the London Palladium (which resulted in the biggest global live event cinema release of 2018) and a previous record-breaking UK and International tour, this multi-Tony Award-winning production returns to venues all over the country next year – visiting Canterbury, Wimbledon, Liverpool, Birmingham, Llandudno, High Wycombe, Bristol, Dartford, Bradford, Southend, Cardiff, Glasgow and Dublin. Further UK cities and details of a major international tour will be announced soon.

Helen George said: “Theatre is my first love, and I am so excited to be returning to the stage for this beautiful, majestic production of The King and I. I was blown away when I saw Bartlett Sher’s staging of this wonderful show, so I can’t wait to work with him and the rest of the creative team to bring this timeless story back to the stage next year. Anna is such a strong, passionate and determined character, and I’m going to relish bringing her to life every night, as well as giving audiences all over the UK the chance to see this peerless Broadway and West End musical right on their doorstep.”

The critical acclaim for Bartlett Sher’s production has been phenomenal. When the show opened at the London Palladium in 2018, West End critics heaped praise on the show: the Daily Mail “left the London Palladium on a bright cloud of music”, while the The Times awarded the show “Five stars for a sumptuous King and I” declaring it “a hit”. Daily Express hailed it “London’s theatrical event of 2018” whilst The Daily Telegraph concurred proclaiming the show “looks and sounds ravishing”. Another five stars were awarded from the Sunday Express and the Financial Times called it “simply spellbinding”.

The King and I is a sumptuous, timeless romance from the golden age of musicals, adored by the public and critics alike – and boasting one of the finest scores ever written, including Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You, and Shall We Dance.

Set in 1860s Bangkok, The King and I tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children.

Further casting for the UK tour will be announced soon.

THE KING AND I – 2023 UK TOUR DATES

4 – 11 February Canterbury Marlowe Theatre

14 – 18 February Wimbledon New Theatre

21 – 25 February Liverpool Empire Theatre

28 Feb – 4 March Birmingham Alexandra Theatre

7 – 11 March Llandudno Venue Cymru

14 – 18 March High Wycombe Swan Theatre

28 Mar – 1 April Bristol Hippodrome

4 – 8 April Dartford Orchard Theatre

11 – 15 April Bradford Alhambra Theatre

18 – 22 April Southend Cliffs Pavilion

25 – 29 April Cardiff New Theatre

2 – 6 May Hull New Theatre

16 – 20 May Glasgow Kings Theatre

27 June – 1 July Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

*Helen George will perform on Wednesday – Saturday performances, at venues up to and including Cardiff New Theatre

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Website: KingandIMusical.co.uk

Twitter: @thekingandiuk

Facebook: @thekingandiuk

Instagram: @thekingandiuk

THE MOUSETRAP
THE WORLD’S LONGEST RUNNING PLAY

IS TO MAKE ITS

BROADWAY PREMIERE IN 2023

Agatha Christie’s legendary thriller
to open on Broadway for the first time ever

Special Commemorative Cartoon
marks today’s 70^th anniversary of the London
production, the world’s longest running play

(Friday 25^th November 2022) Agatha Christie’s iconic thriller, The Mousetrap, the longest running play in the world, marks its 70^th anniversary today by announcing that the show will make its Broadway premiere next year.

The legendary show – which has never been performed previously in New York – will open in 2023. For more information and to register for ticketing updates, go to www.mousetrapbroadway.com

Tickets will go on sale in the new year. Full booking and all production details will be announced in due course.

The New York premiere will be a co-production between The Mousetrap’s UK producer, Adam Spiegel, and multiple Tony Award-winning American producer Kevin McCollum, whose credits include Rent, Avenue Q, In The Heights and Motown The Musical, as well as the hugely successful Broadway productions of British smash hit shows The Play That Goes Wrong and Six.

Kevin said: “I am thrilled that Agatha Christie’s beloved murder mystery that changed popular theatre and has been a landmark attraction for US visitors to London’s West End for the past 70 years will now be coming to Broadway. I’m excited for the huge Christie fan-base in North America, and for the acting company in New York who will join the esteemed ranks of The Mousetrap alumni.”.

Adam said: “There can be no better way to mark today’s milestone in The Mousetrap’s illustrious run, than to look ahead to a production in New York. I feel after the longest out of town try-out in history, The Mousetrap is finally ready to transfer to Broadway!”

The Mousetrap today also releases a special cartoon, commemorating 70 years since the show first opened in London, and drawn by acclaimed writer and cartoonist for The Sunday Times and Private Eye, Nick Newman.

The Mousetrap’s history continues to be written into London life – from husband-and-wife Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim starring in the inaugural production in 1952, and Queen Elizabeth II attending the 50^th anniversary performance, through to the performance on 17 May 2021 marking the official reopening of the West End after the Covid lockdown.

Today, on the 70^th Anniversary, a special midday matinee performance will take place in thanks and recognition of the vast number of people who have worked and continue to work on the production, with many guests having a historic connection to the show.

The Mousetrap is the genre-defining murder mystery from Agatha Christie, the world’s best-selling novelist of all time. The show has been performed over 28,915 times in London and has been seen by over 10 million people.

The 70^th Anniversary touring production of The Mousetrap opened at Nottingham Theatre Royal in September 2022 and will perform at over 70 venues throughout the U.K. and Ireland, ensuring this extraordinary milestone year will be marked across the country.

The Mousetrap is produced by Adam Spiegel.

For further information, see uk.the-mousetrap.co.uk