{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O130525"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O130525/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BY0073/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BY0073/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009BY0073","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O130525","accessionNumber":"S.401-2006","objectType":"Silk playbill","titles":[{"title":"The Mousetrap","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"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 silk programmes 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.\r\n\r\nThis silk playbill was produced to mark the 2239th performance of <i>The Mousetrap</i> 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 the 1000th performance, 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.","physicalDescription":"Silk programme on scarlet silk, printed in black typograph, and fringed along each edge with a scarlet silk fringe. Produced for the 2239th performance of <i>The Mousetrap</i> at the Ambassadors Theatre, 12 April 1958, when it became the longest running play 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.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"printers","id":"x31107"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed silk","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Theatre","id":"THES250537"},{"text":"Souvenirs","id":"THES287379"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2009BY0073"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"106","id":"THES49925"},"free":"","case":"CA005B","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"silk programmes","id":"THES285409"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1958","earliest":"1958-01-01","latest":"1958-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"AAT53319"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.264-1981","id":"O130526"},"association":"Duplicate"},{"object":{"text":"S.1079-1983","id":"O130527"},"association":"Duplicate"},{"object":{"text":"S.343-1978","id":"O130524"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.402-2006","id":"O130522"},"association":"Object"}],"creditLine":"Given by Muriel Martin-Harvey","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"32.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"including fringe","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"24.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"including fringe","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"3.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of fringe","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The play originally opened at the Ambassador's Theatre, 25 November 1952.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silk playbill produced for the 2239th performance of Agatha Christie's play <i>The Mousetrap</i>, Ambassadors Theatre, 12 April 1958, when it became the longest running play in the history of the British theatre.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"In the 19th century silk playbills and programmes were frequently produced as souvenirs of special theatrical occasions. The practice continued into the 20th century to commemorate gala performances, the opening of new venues or special anniversaries. The 2239th performance seems a strange number to celebrate but this performance made Agatha Christie's<i> The Mousetrap</i> the longest running play in the West End.","date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"}},{"text":"Souvenir programmes function as a reminder of a show and an indication of the show’s popularity and perceived importance within its contemporary context. \r\n\r\nSpecial editions mark galas and royal performances, anniversaries, tributes and record-breaking runs. The 2239th performance of <i>The Mousetrap</i>, for instance, made it the longest-running show in the West End.\r\n \r\n","date":{"text":"March 2014","earliest":"2014-03-01","latest":"2014-03-31"}}],"partNumbers":["S.401-2006"],"accessionNumberNum":"401","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2006,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LV1047","2019LV8683"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2006-12-28","availableToBook":false}}