Original Mousetrap Set Auctioned This Month
Date: 11 June 1999
Forty-seven years with one set is pretty good going, but The Mousetrap, the world's longest running play, is finally clearing house. The show's original set will be auctioned later this month in order to raise money for, rather appropriately, a charity for elderly actors.
The country house setting, designed by Anthony Holland, has been the home of The Mousetrap since 1952, first at The Ambassadors Theatre for 21 years, and since then at the St. Martin's Theatre. As well as the original canvases, the play still uses original features such as the wind machine - while the clock on the mantle-piece has been there for the entire 47 years!
'We hope the set will be bought by one of the many avid Mousetrap and Agatha Christie fans,' says David Turner, artistic director for The Mousetrap for the past eight years. The auction, he adds, also provides 'an opportunity for aspiring actors to own, and act on, what is perhaps the most well-known set in the world.'
When The Mousetrap opened on 25th November 1952 starring Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim, Sir Winston Churchill was Prime Minister and bacon, cheese, butter and margarine were still rationed. In its 47 years in the West End, The Mousetrap has been seen by more than ten million visitors and has starred more than 340 actors and actresses. David Raven achieved 'the most durable actor' award in the Guiness Book of Records for a record 4,575 performances as Major Metcalf.
Money raised from the set auction will be donated to Denville Hall, the residential care and nursing home for elderly actors and actresses run by The Actor's Charitable Trust. Nancy Seabrooke, the world's longest serving understudy, having understudied Mrs Boyle in The Mousetrap (of course!) for 6,240 performances, appearing 72 times, retired in 1994 to Denville Hall, where she died last year.
The Mousetrap set will go to the highest bidder by 5pm on Friday 18th June and will be dismantled after the evening performance on 19 June. The show will go on, with its new set, on Monday 21 June, for the 19,382nd performance. The Mousetrap management will assist the buyer in transporting the set and setting it up. Potential bidders should call Jane Titchband on + 44 171 828 0600.
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