St Martin's Theatre is a West End theatre which has staged the production of The Mousetrap since March 1974, making it the longest continuous run of any show in the world.
The theatre is located in West Street, near Shaftesbury Avenue, in the West End of London. It was designed by W. G. R. Sprague as one of a pair of theatres, along with the Ambassadors Theatre, also in West Street. Richard Verney, 19th Baron Willoughby de Broke, together with B. A. (Bertie) Meyer, commissioned Sprague to design the theatre buildings. Although the Ambassadors opened in 1913, construction of the St Martin's was delayed by the outbreak of the First World War. The theatre is still owned by the present Lord Willoughby de Broke and his family.
Many famous British actors passed through the St Martin's. In April 1923 Basil Rathbone played Harry Domain in R.U.R. and in June 1927 Henry Daniell appeared there as Gregory Brown in Meet the Wife. Successes at the theatre included Hugh Williams's play (later a film) The Grass is Greener, John Mortimer's The Wrong Side of the Park, and in 1970 the thriller Sleuth which starred Marius Goring for a long run as Andrew Wyke.
After Cochran, Bertie Meyer ran the theatre intermittently until 1967, when his son R. A. (Ricky) Meyer became administrator for the next two decades. The St Martin's has been listed Grade II on the National Heritage List for England since March 1973.[4] In March 1974 Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap transferred from the Ambassadors to the St Martin's, where it continued its run until 16 March 2020 when the show had to be suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, holding the record for the longest continuously running show in the world. On 17 May 2021, the show was the first West End show to re-open[5] and as of October 2022[update] has exceeded 26,000 performances at the St Martin's.
References
Notes
^"A Cosy New Theatre", in The Times, 24 November 1916, p. 11
^Wearing, J. P., The London stage, 1910–1919: a calendar of plays and players, vol. 1 (Scarecrow Press, 1982)
^Cochran, Charles Blake. The Secrets of a Showman (1925) p. 224
^"The Mousetrap Official Site - the world's longest running play in the West End".
Sources
Guide to British Theatres 1750–1950, John Earl and Michael Sell pp. 138–9 (Theatres Trust, 2000) ISBN0-7136-5688-3
Who's Who in the Theatre, edited by John Parker, tenth edition, revised, London, 1947, pps: 477–478 and 1184.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Martin's Theatre.
Theatre description at "The Mousetrap" website
Theatre History
May 04, 2023
martin, theatre, west, theatre, which, staged, production, mousetrap, since, march, 1974, making, longest, continuous, show, world, martin, theatrest, martin, theatre, 2010addresswest, streetlondon, wc2united, kingdomcoordinates51, 512778, 1275, 512778, 1275, . St Martin s Theatre is a West End theatre which has staged the production of The Mousetrap since March 1974 making it the longest continuous run of any show in the world St Martin s TheatreSt Martin s Theatre in 2010AddressWest StreetLondon WC2United KingdomCoordinates51 30 46 N 0 07 39 W 51 512778 N 0 1275 W 51 512778 0 1275 Coordinates 51 30 46 N 0 07 39 W 51 512778 N 0 1275 W 51 512778 0 1275Public transitLeicester SquareOwnerLord Willoughby de Broke and Stephen Waley CohenDesignationGrade II listedTypeWest End theatreCapacity550ProductionThe Mousetrap since 25 March 1974 ConstructionOpened23 November 1916 106 years ago 1916 11 23 ArchitectW G R SpragueWebsiteThe Mousetrap official websiteThe theatre is located in West Street near Shaftesbury Avenue in the West End of London It was designed by W G R Sprague as one of a pair of theatres along with the Ambassadors Theatre also in West Street Richard Verney 19th Baron Willoughby de Broke together with B A Bertie Meyer commissioned Sprague to design the theatre buildings Although the Ambassadors opened in 1913 construction of the St Martin s was delayed by the outbreak of the First World War The theatre is still owned by the present Lord Willoughby de Broke and his family The first production at the St Martin s was the spectacular Edwardian musical comedy Houp La starring Gertie Millar which opened on 23 November 1916 1 2 The producer was the impresario Charles B Cochran who took a 21 year lease on the new theatre 3 Many famous British actors passed through the St Martin s In April 1923 Basil Rathbone played Harry Domain in R U R and in June 1927 Henry Daniell appeared there as Gregory Brown in Meet the Wife Successes at the theatre included Hugh Williams s play later a film The Grass is Greener John Mortimer s The Wrong Side of the Park and in 1970 the thriller Sleuth which starred Marius Goring for a long run as Andrew Wyke After Cochran Bertie Meyer ran the theatre intermittently until 1967 when his son R A Ricky Meyer became administrator for the next two decades The St Martin s has been listed Grade II on the National Heritage List for England since March 1973 4 In March 1974 Agatha Christie s The Mousetrap transferred from the Ambassadors to the St Martin s where it continued its run until 16 March 2020 when the show had to be suspended due to the COVID 19 pandemic in the United Kingdom holding the record for the longest continuously running show in the world On 17 May 2021 the show was the first West End show to re open 5 and as of October 2022 update has exceeded 26 000 performances at the St Martin s References EditNotes A Cosy New Theatre in The Times 24 November 1916 p 11 Wearing J P The London stage 1910 1919 a calendar of plays and players vol 1 Scarecrow Press 1982 Cochran Charles Blake The Secrets of a Showman 1925 p 224 Historic England St Martin s Theatre 1379186 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 17 December 2022 The Mousetrap Official Site the world s longest running play in the West End SourcesGuide to British Theatres 1750 1950 John Earl and Michael Sell pp 138 9 Theatres Trust 2000 ISBN 0 7136 5688 3 Who s Who in the Theatre edited by John Parker tenth edition revised London 1947 pps 477 478 and 1184 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Martin s Theatre Theatre description at The Mousetrap website Theatre History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Martin 27s Theatre amp oldid 1127990209, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
