- Title: ''The Mousetrap'' re-opens in the West End
- Date: 17th May 2021
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 17, 2021) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR ST MARTIN'S THEATRE POSTER READING (English) 'WHO DUNNIT' POSTER SHOWING TWO CASTS SIGN FOR THE MOUSETRAP POSTER FOR 'THE MOUSETRAP' (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRODUCER, ADAM SPIEGEL, SAYING: 'I've always thought that it was really important symbolically that 'The Mousetrap' re-open the West End. I obviously have a bias on that, but I, it feels like it feels as if it's it's iconic. It's it's the one, it's the one West End symbol that everyone can get behind and say, OK, great. Now the way now the West End is is starting again. So although financially, this is unsustainable for a long period of time, I made the decision that I thought it was worth doing, first of all, to get everyone back to work and secondly, to say right the West End is open for business again.' THEATRE FOYER SIGN SHOWING NUMBER OF SHOWS VARIOUS OF GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS POSTER ACTORS DANNY MAC AND CASSIDY JANSON IN INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR CASSIDY JANSON AND DANNY MAC, SAYING: JANSON : 'I feel very honoured and humbled and privileged to be sort of to be at the front of the ship. I suppose, you know, there's so many people that are still unemployed or their shows don't open for another few months. And, you know, with the year being the way it has been to to be employed in this industry at this moment in time and to be the first West End show open is, you know, you feel like we better to do a good show tonight. MAC: 'Yeah, I know. There's a lot of eyes on us.'
- Embargoed: 31st May 2021 16:48
- Keywords: Mousetrap Theatre West End reopening
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Theatre
- Reuters ID: LVA001EDCMPUH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Even though it cannot open at full capacity, the world's longest running play 'The Mousetrap' is about to re-open in London's West End.
Author Agatha Christie's murder mystery is one of the first shows back as lockdown restrictions in England eased on Monday (May 17).
Producer Adam Spiegel told Reuters that although the show, now in its 69th year, can only sell under half of the usual number of seats due to social distancing rules, he wanted to open as soon as possible.
"I've always thought that it was really important symbolically that 'The Mousetrap' reopen the West End," he said.
"Although financially this is unsustainable for a long period of time, I made the decision that I thought it was worth doing, first of all, to get everyone back to work and secondly, to say right the West End is open for business again."
'The Mousetrap' staged its first show in 1952, and its London run stopped for the first time in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This time around, the show has two casts - called 'Marple' and 'Poirot', named after other Christie characters Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot - just in case any of the actors contract the coronavirus.
Actor Cassidy Janson, who is on team 'Marple', said it was great to be back ''at the front of the ship'' when it comes to theatre starting back.
''I feel very honoured and humbled and privileged'', she told Reuters.
Spiegel said the production only found out at the end of last week that the show could open, as the British government monitors the data on the spread of COVID-19.
Reflecting on the possible impact on the spread of new strain of the virus first detected in India, he said he was hopeful that re-opening plans can continue as planned in the UK.
He said it would be 'devastating for the industry as a whole' if social distancing has to continue past the next anticipated easing date of June 21.
(Production: Sarah Mills / Will Russell) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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