Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap to hit the Albury stage

The world’s longest running play is coming to Albury.

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap will be on stage at the Albury Entertainment Centre next August and was just one of nine showstopping performances unveiled at the December launch of the centre’s 2024 theatre season.

The launch opened with the glitz and glamour of live performance and a sneak peak of Strictly Ballroom The Musical, which will be presented by Revolution Theatre Productions in April.

A further eight events were highlighted in what is shaping up to be a year to remember for the centre.

Venue manager Brendan Maher said securing the West End murder mystery production of The Mousetrap was a real coup for Albury as it was only touring to two NSW venues between Melbourne and Sydney (the other town being Orange).

“This is a huge accomplishment for the arts in Albury and an absolute highlight in our program. We are so lucky to have a theatre like this that can accommodate these sorts of shows. It’s a very exciting year ahead,” he said.

“Next year we are celebrating our 60th year and our 20th theatre season and the lineup is a great representation of all art forms that have graced our stage over the decades.”

The 2024 season kicks off on 16 February with Wayfinder, a kaleidoscopic fusion of dance, music and visual art. It’s followed by Piaf & Aznavour: Back in Time on 17 March, The Sunshine Club on 8 June, Garage Girls on 19 July and the Victorian Ballet’s Beauty and the Beast on 2-3 August.

“It is great to have some very high profile events coming up,” Mr Maher said.

“Securing the Melbourne Ballet for Beauty and the Beast is great and it’s such a beautiful timeless ballet.

“It’s also very exciting to have the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra returning due to their long-term connection with the theatre from many years ago and quite fitting to be performing in our 60th year.”

The Mousetrap has been entertaining theatregoers for more than 70 years and has kept millions of people from every corner of the globe on the edge of their seats. There have been 28,500 performances so far and Albury will add to the tally with several showings scheduled from 8-11 August.

It follows the story of seven strangers who find themselves snowed in at a remote countryside guesthouse with a killer in their midst. When a second murder takes place, tensions and fears escalate. Of course, there are various twists and turns and the brilliant surprise finish that Christie is known for.

Following The Mousetrap will be A Day at a Time in Rhyme on 12 September. Written and performed by industry veteran Jane Clifton, this is an immersive piece of hybrid theatre comprising spoken word, soundscape, image and music with source material drawn from Clifton’s 2019 published poetry diary of the same name.

Clifton will also appear at the Write Around the Murray Festival in Albury and will be conducting a workshop as part of its main program.

On 24 October, the border welcomes back the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO).

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra artistic director Sophie Rowell joins Queensland Symphony Orchestra chief conductor Umberto Clerici for a wonderful program that sees the MSO performing music of child prodigy Felix Mendelssohn alongside that of the (then) living legend he looked up to: the great Ludwig van Beethoven.

Fittingly, the year winds up with A Christmas Spectacular on 7 December with legendary musical theatre, classical and opera stars David Hobson, Penny McNamee, Dale Burridge and Mirusia. They’ll come together to perform a range of classic carols as solos, duets and ensembles in a two-hour concert.

At the conclusion of the launch, Mr Maher promoted the benefits of becoming a member of the Albury Entertainment Centre.

He said the $50 annual fee provided for a range of discounts and special offers including access to members’ pricing at The Cube Wodonga and Hothouse Theatre. For more information visit the Albury Entertainment Centre website.