UK – London – St Martin’s Theatre

Dates: 1916 – present

The home of The Mousetrap, running continuously at St Martin’s Theatre since 25 March 1974, continuing a run at the Ambassadors Theatre from 25 November 1952 to 23 March 1974. 

The production paused during the Coronavirus pandemic, between March 2020 and 17 May 2021.

Past Performances (list under construction)

  • The Mousetrap (25 March 1974 – present) transfer from Ambassadors Theatre
  • The Collector (18 February 1974 – 23 March 1974) starring Marianne Faithfull, Simon Williams
  • Dead Easy (Previews 22 January, Opened 24 January 1974 – ?February 1974) starring Irene Handl, Roy Kinnear, Ami MacDonald. Written by Jack Popplewell. With Patrick Barr. 
  • Lloyd George Knew My Father (1 October 1973 – 19 January 1974) transferred from Savoy Theatre starring Andrew Cruickshank, Avice Landon, Jack Watling
  • Say Goodnight to Grandma (29 March 1973 – 29 September 1973) by Colin Welland
  • Lover (8-17 March 1973) starring Sally Ann Howes, Jeremy Hawk, Derren Nesbitt, Kenneth Nelson, Max Wall. By Brian Clemens.
  • Sleuth (Feb 12 1970 – 3 March 1973) Transferred to Garrick Theatre from 6 March 1973 and then Fortune Theatre from 9 Oct 1973. Run ended Oct 25, 1975. Directed by Clifford Williams. Starring Anthony Quayle, Keith Baxter. 
  • Play On Love ( – ?7 Feb 1970) starring Dorothy Tutin, Dinsdale Landen, Lana Morris, Patrick Cargill

Lighting Control desks:

  • Schwabe Lighting System, Permanent Panorama (Who’s Who in the Theatre, 1930 at the Arthur Lloyd website)
    See also the Schwabe Hasait system
  • System PR with 100 circuits (18 FOH) (The Stage Guide 1970) Sleuth ran on this desk.
  • 80 way Compact from around 1978 until the mid 1980s(?)
  • Tempus M24 (listed on British Performing Arts Yearbook 1994)
    Includes FX backup, 45 circuits at 2kW, operated from perch SR. 40 spots and fresnels, Strand
    From ‘Lights’, February 1994: The St. Martin’s Theatre – Home of London’s longest running stage play, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” – has just been re-equipped with Strand products by Playlight Hire Ltd. 
  • ETC Express 125

Stage Machinery

From “Who’s Who in the Theatre”, 1930 at the Arthur Lloyd website

  • Three Working Bridges 26ft by 3ft, and two 12ft 6in by 5ft. Two grave and two star traps in front bridge.
    Dock on OP side 13ft by 12ft and 20ft high.

 

Exhibits from this venue in the Backstage Heritage Collection

  • Compact from St Martins Theatre (1978)
  • Links to information about equipment at St Martins Theatre over the years

  • PR / System PR (Strand)
  • Compact (CMS) (Strand)
  • Tempus M24 (Strand)
  • Express (Electronic Theatre Controls / ETC)
  • Schwabe-Hasait Seven-Colour System (Schwabe & Co.)
  • Documents

    M78 Old St Martins Board
    M78 Old St Martins Board 
    Click on thumbnail to enlarge
    [971kb  JPEG]
    From Strand Slide Archive
    M79 Old St Martins Board
    M79 Old St Martins Board 
    Click on thumbnail to enlarge
    [863kb  JPEG]
    From Strand Slide Archive

    St Martins Theatre - Arthur Lloyd 
    [External Website]
    From Arthur Lloyd website

    Strand Electric quote for Grand Master vs Electronic at St Martins (February 1952)
    [1.2Mb PDF]
    From David Bertenshaw Collection

     

     

    Location


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    St Martins Theatre, Saint Martins Theatre, Saint Martin’s Theatre