REVIEW - The Mousetrap continues to entertain audiences after 75 years, but can you solve the murder mystery?

We were invited to see The Mousetrap at the Manchester Opera House. Read what our reviewer Erin had to say about this great show...

The stage show of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap has finally reached Manchester, and it is ready to take us by storm. Loved for 75 years, expectations are high, and it did not let us down.

A group of strangers become trapped inside Monkswell Manor Guest House during a snowstorm. They learn of a murder that has been committed not far away, and a police sergeant arrives to investigate. When the sergeant reveals that the killer could be among them, secrets from the characters' pasts begin to emerge; suspicion falls on everyone.

The set was impressive; immersive and detailed, I felt like a part of the show. The fact the show is set only in the living room of the house meant there was an air of mystery, the audience have no idea what goes on in the rest of the house. When a character leaves through one door, and enters through another, the imagination runs wild and paranoia sets in, questioning what the character was up to. The cast delivered magnetising performances, you just couldn’t look away.

Emily Laing (Arcadia, Way Upstream, The Roundabout) made for a fantastic Mollie Ralston. She was moving, and made the character really easy to connect with. Jack Hardwick (The Play That Goes Wrong, The Bodyguard, The Doctor) played Mollie’s husband Giles Ralston, a protective man who grows suspicious of their houseguests. Harwick’s stage presence was confident and assured.

Thomas Barrett (Summerfolk, Installation) did a fantastic job of capturing Christopher’s hyperactive and eccentric demeanor. Mr Paravicini was another eccentric character, but James Peake (Cry/Laugh, You Won’t Break My Soul, Bread & Breakfast) portrayed him with a more theatrical, unsettling charm, which worked very well.

The critical Mrs Boyle was played by Susan Penhaligon (Cabaret, Verdict, Death Trap) who captured Mrs Boyle’s sharp wit and hard-to-please nature perfectly. I particularly enjoyed the dialogue between Mrs Boyle and Miss Casewell, played by Clare Duffy (Private Lives, The Opposite Sex, Pipe Dream). Their back and forth was amusing, with Duffy’s sternness towards Mrs Boyle providing a nice break from all the mystery and tension.

The most no-nonsense character was Major Metcalf; Nicholas Bailey (Atonement, First Touch, The Memory of Water) showed Metcalf’s warmth and calm with ease. The final character we are introduced to is Detective Sergeant Trotter. Alfie Richards (Fun Home, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, Treason) had the audience in the palm of his hands- a very impressive performance.

The show’s comedic edge came as a surprise, but the simple jokes were humorous, and laughter spread constantly through the audience. All together, The Mousetrap is the perfect murder mystery- an isolated group, a plethora of secrets, and the truth just desperate to be set free. A night out to the theatre for this show is more than worth it, but hurry to get your tickets, as it’s only in Manchester until the 31st! Will you solve the murder first, or be left reeling when you discover the truth?

WE SCORE THE MOUSETRAP...

The Mousetrap is on at the Opera House, Manchester until Saturday 31st October 2026.


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