This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour saw The Mousetrap at the invite of The Alexandra.
For Brum Radio’s Interval Theatre, Nicholas Bailey spoke about returning to this production and starting in his home city of Birmingham at The Alexandra. Listen below:
By Dave Massey
The Mousetrap: 75th Anniversary Tour at The Alexandra: Review
“A fun, whimsical mystery”⭐⭐⭐⭐
Directed by Hannah Chissick, written by Agatha Christie
The Mousetrap is set in a snowy December in the 1950s, at a newly opened guest house. Molly (Emily Laing) and Giles (Jack Hardwick) are a recently married couple welcoming guests for the first time. We meet Wren (Thomas Barrett), Mrs Boyle (Susan Penhaligon), Major Metcalf (Nicholas Bailey), Miss Casewell (Clare Duffy), and the chance arrival Mr Paravicini (James Peake). The guest house is disrupted by the arrival of Detective Sergeant Trotter (Alfie Richards).
This iconic story relies on the audience keeping the secret about what they have witnessed, and this does indeed add an air of mystery to the production.
Performance-wise, this is an ensemble cast, all with quirks to share, from Thomas Barrett, whose Wren is clearly agitated, to Susan Penhaligon’s grumpy Mrs Boyle, who is determined to knock some money from her stay.
The set is a static large reception room with at least five exits from the stage. The set has the feeling of a very old house. Sounds throughout add to the spooky nature of the story, and music elements evoke the era. The themes of trust and taking responsibility are as relevant today as ever, even though the play would be very different if it were set today.
It is worth finding someone who doesn’t know the story and taking them to see it, as it is fun to experience for the first time without any foreknowledge.
A fun, whimsical mystery, The Mousetrap is at The Alexandra until 12th September 2026. Book tickets here: atgtickets.com/shows/the-mousetrap/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham.
