Review: Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap at Crewe Lyceum*

[Ad-gifted] When Agatha Christie, one of the world’s most beloved writers of crime fiction, wrote her original radio play, Three Blind Mice, back in 1947 after the hell of WWII had subsided, little did she know that it would morph into one of the most successful and longest running plays in history. What she did say a little later on was that The Mousetrap – renamed such in 1952 for its stage debut – should be ‘a play that almost anyone can put on and enjoy acting in’.

Well, that was over seventy years ago, and here we are in 2026 at the Crewe Lyceum  – a delightful theatre that overlooks a freshly regenerated town market and square – lining up in damp lines on a dark October evening to enjoy yet again the thrill of that most successful murder mystery.

I have read plenty of Agatha Christie books. Part of the benefit of not being brought up with a TV was a huge collection of books of all kinds. Agatha Christie’s tomes took up a couple of yards of shelf space (the linear kind), and some of the gory cover artwork was masked with parcel tape so that us three young children would not be scared by the skulls and pistols… making them even more intriguing.

The story goes that a young couple, Giles and Mollie Ralston (Jack Hardwick and Emily Laing), have just opened a guest house called Monkswell Manor, and they are expecting a handful of guests this wild, snowy night. One by one the guests arrive – four of whom have booked in – followed by a fifth person, a mysterious Mr Paravicini (James Peake), who has overturned his car in a snowdrift. First we have Christopher Wren (Thomas Barrett), a rather strange young man with a penchant for nursery rhymes, architecture and cooking. He is followed by the irascible Mrs Boyle (Susan Penhaligon) – a former magistrate who is somewhat entitled, rude and opinionated. They are quickly joined by Major Metcalfe (played by Nicholas Bailey), an orderly man who seems to be the model guest – and finally Miss Casewell (Clare Duffy), a confident young woman whom nobody can quite fathom out.

What a cosy party! The snow howls down, Mrs Boyle complains about the heating, the curious Mr Wren starts helping in the kitchen, and poor Molly runs round after them all, trying to please everyone. Then the telephone rings, and the announcement of Detective Sergeant Trotter (Alfie Richards) that there is a murderer on the loose – almost definitely one of the occupants of Monkswell Manor – throws the guesthouse into chaos and suspicion.

What I thought of The Mousetrap at the Lyceum, Crewe

The moment we took our seats, we could tell we were in for a bit of a treat here. We are in the centre of Monkswell Manor, a draughty old pile in the English countryside not too far from London – and the set is simply gorgeous. Old, ornate doors and a tall snowy window (with a realistic howling blizzard just outside) make it deeply atmospheric, and crackling broadcasts from a vintage radio instantly take us back in time. I was told that some of the cast are quite well known – but I didn’t recognise anyone, which I found a good thing. Everyone here was on merit, not celebrity; and we got a sterling performance from all. There was a wonderful moment when Christopher Wren – whose slightly unhinged character was nailed by Barrett – had hidden himself in the long velvet curtains out of sight of the guests (and especially Giles, who was suspicious of him from the start). Suddenly he opened the curtains with a flourish, and pretty much the entire audience jumped and gasped in shock. It was almost too thrilling!

After Sergeant Trotter had rounded everyone up and given them the third degree, pretty much nobody was above suspicion. Yes, they all have their little secrets – and I guess that those of us who hadn’t seen the play before (including me) had come up with a wide selection of suspects by the time we got to the interval.

Well, whodunit? I hear you ask. With The Mousetrap, there is a time-honoured tradition that once seen, you must never tell. So off you go to the Lyceum, then! Grab your tickets and immerse yourself in the unique legacy that Agatha Christie left for millions to enjoy. If you love traditional, old-school theatre, murder mystery and genuine surprises, this is the one you shouldn’t miss this autumn.

Cast of The Mousetrap

Mollie Ralston – Emily Laing
Giles Ralston – Jack Hardwick
Christopher Wren – Thomas Barrett
Mrs Boyle – Susan Penhaligon
Major Metcalfe – Nicholas Bailey
Mr Paravicini – James Peake
Miss Casewell – Clare Duffy
Sergeant Trotter – Alfie Richards

Creative Team

Producer Brian Fenty

How much are the tickets for The Mousetrap?

Tickets are priced between £27.50 to £59.50.

How do I book tickets to watch The Mousetrap?

Tickets can be booked by calling the box office at 0343 310 0050 or by visiting Crewe Lyceum’s website here.

How long is The Mousetrap and what are the timings?

The show will be running until Saturday, 10 October 2026. Evening shows at 7.30pm while matinee shows will be at 2.30pm on Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday.

Where is Crewe Lyceum Theatre?

The Crewe Lyceum is Cheshire’s historic Edwardian theatre and a Trafalgar Entertainment venue. Established in 1911, the theatre has been thrilling and delighting audiences with the best of drama, comedy, variety and more for over a century – and counting. Every year more than 23,000 theatregoers attend the annual Crewe Lyceum pantomime, and audiences shouldn’t wait to secure their seats for Cheshire’s favourite family pantomime. 

Review by: Metia Bethell

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Photo credit: Crewe Lyceum/Matt Crockett

* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.