Now celebrating being in constant production for 70 years, you have to be curious as to what all the fuss is about, and how it’s endured. It’s not as if you can’t miss a bit of Agatha Christie even if you wanted to, as there is always a Miss Marple, Poirot, or some new remake available, currently ‘Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?’, on almost every night. So, what is it about this play in particular that has given it enduring appeal, and on press night in Woking, playing to an almost full house?

A classic whodunit? A conventional yet entertaining theatrical experience? The secret of its success goes beyond this. Since its beginning, it has always attracted a strong cast of theatrical and TV talent, including the venerable Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim. The current cast, with familiar faces Todd Carty (Grange Hill and Eastenders) and Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra in Only Fools and Horses) topping the bill, both have a strong background in both theatre and TV and play the roles with confidence and familiarity. The stock characters are brought to life with clipped accents, and the script is delivered with some modern freshness. It is sometimes hard to believe the script was written over 70 years ago, as some of the lines feel as though they were written yesterday. Observations such as ‘English women don’t know how to take compliments,’ are as true now as they were then. It is a play that gives the audience exactly what it wants; a witty, timeless script, suspense, humour, a homicidal maniac and a twist in the tale ending.

So, what is it about? Think classic Agatha Christie – think English country house, snowbound – a range of characters – beautiful, well-dressed and well-spoken men and women – and a wonderfully intriguing murder right from the start. Let’s face it, we love a good murder, don’t we? In this play, we don’t have to wait; murder is delivered to us on a plate, with the anticipation of more throughout. A group of seemingly unrelated people arrive at Monkswell Guest House during a terrible snowstorm, and find themselves isolated from the world, with not just a murderer but a homicidal maniac in their midst. Tensions rise, infused surprisingly with quite a bit of humour, until the denouement is reached.

This is a solid production: a strong, well-knit cast; a traditional set, seamless effects and a plot that engages and entertains. If you love Agatha Christie and want to be part of the secret, then this is definitely a must-see. It is Christie royalty. The Mousetrap is currently playing at The New Victoria Theatre, Woking, from Monday 10th-Saturday 15th April.