NEWS: Socially distanced performances of The Mousetrap are to start in the West End in October.

The world's longest contiunuall running play, forced to close in March, might well be one of the first prdoductions back on the West End stage as they plan social distancing measures to reopen their doors on 23rd October.

Agatha Christie's whodunnit, which first played in London over 67 years ago, will be presented with no touching and social distancing on stage. The theatre will take additional COVID-19 precautions backstage and in the St Martin's Theatre auditorium, where every other row will be removed to accommodate socially distanced audiences of 200. The measures are in accordance with stage four of the Government's Road Map for the return of live theatre and music.

The socially distanced cast will include Eleanor McLoughlin, Lizzie Muncey, Neil Ditt, Paul Hilliar, Tony Timberlake, Alexander Wolfe, Damien Matthews and Brenda Longman. The production will be directed by Ian Talbot.

Producer Adam Spiegel said: "It feels very symbolic that The Mousetrap will be amongst the first – and potentially the very first – West End show to open its doors again. As well as being the longest running play in the world, Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist this country has ever produced. She had already left a legacy for us to take great pride in. Her name being back up in lights in the West End, heralding the beginning of the end of a very dark time in the history of the theatre, means she will rightly remain one of the most celebrated figures in our cultural life."