Silk playbill produced for the 2,239th performance of The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie, Ambassadors Theatre, 12 April 1958, when it became the longest running play of any kind in the history of the British theatre.

Silk programme on scarlet cream silk printed in black typography, and fringed along each edge with a scarlet silk fringe. Produced for the 2,239th performance of The Mousetrap at the Ambassadors Theatre, 12 April 1958, when it became the longest running play of any kind in the history of the British theatre. Featuring the name of the producer Peter Saunders and the names of the actors Mary Law as Mollie Ralston, William Abney as Giles Ralston, Geoffrey Colvile as Christopher Wren, Mysie Monte as Mrs. Boyle, David Raven as Major Metcalf, Joan Drummond as Miss Casewell, Arthur Brough as Mr Paravicini, and Derek Blomfield as Detective Sergeant Trotter. Decor was by Roger Furse. The theatre staff included Verity Hudson, General Manager, A. Huntly Gordon, Company and Stage Manager, and Daniel Tree, Assistant Stage Manager.

Given by Muriel Martin-Harvey

The actors were Mary Law as Mollie Ralston, William Abney as Giles Ralston, Geoffrey Colville as Christopher Wren, Mysie Monte as Mrs. Boyle, David Raven as Major Metcalf, Joan Drummond as Miss Caswell, Arthur Brough as Mr. Paravincini, and Derek Blomfield as Detective Sergeant Trotter. The design was by Roger Furse and the play originally opened at the Ambassador's Theatre, 25 November 1952.

Silk and satin theatre playbills and programmes were produced from the 18th century onwards, to commemorate special evenings at the theatre. Most theatres in the 19th century would have had some made to mark grand openings or milestone performances. By the end of the First World War however the practice had generally died out, only being revived very occasionally, more often at London's opera houses than any other theatres.

This silk playbill was produced to mark the 2,239th performance of The Mousetrap on 12 April 1958, five and a half years into its run. A cream silk programme had been produced on 22 April 1955 to mark its 1,000 performances, but although both occasions were seen as important then, no-one would have imagined that the production would still be running over half a century later.

S.401-2006