Agatha Christie Memorial

The Agatha Christie Memorial stands in the heart of London’s theatre district at the corner of Cranbourn Street and Great Newport Street, close to Covent Garden. It marks the place where Christie’s long-running play The Mousetrap first took its bow in 1952. The bronze sculpture shows an open book with the author at its centre, lit from below and within. An inscription gives her life span: Agatha Christie 1890–1976. The design comes from sculptor Ben Twiston-Davies. The memorial honours Christie’s place in theatre history. Her play The Mousetrap has run continuously since 1952, making it the world’s longest-running show. She was also the first woman to have three plays on at once in the West End. The idea came from her grandson Mathew Prichard and producer Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen. Westminster City Council approved the plan and advised on its construction. Visitors find a bronze book set on a small paved area near St Martin’s Cross. The pages carry titles of her most popular books and plays, shown in English and in many other languages. The selection was made through a competition among Christie’s fans. The memorial was unveiled on 25 November 2012, sixty years after The Mousetrap opened.