The Rat Trap tickets

Step back in time to 1920s Belgravia in Noël Coward’s first, yet rarely seen, play, The Rat Trap, reimagined by Bill Rosenfield under the direction of Kirsty Patrick Ward. Book The Rat Trap tickets on London Theatre.

The Rat Trap is a play by Noël Coward, written in 1918 when he was only 18 years old. The Rat Trap did not have its stage premiere until 1926. This production is steeped in youthful artistic ambition, following novelist Sheila and aspiring playwright Keld as they journey into married life, filled with romantic idealism and hope for what the future might bring. But when Keld’s playwright career begins to take off, and Sheila remains stagnant, resentment begins to seep into the cracks of their marriage, exposing just how fragile their vision of partnership really is.

This revival breathes fresh life into Coward’s first play through Rosenfield’s reimagining, reshaping the original text to deliver a more contemporary feel while still retaining its original wit. Beneath the setting of the 1920s lies a perceptive image of the competitive nature of a creative union, marriage, and the compromises that women are often forced to make.

The Rat Trap in London boasts a formidable cast, including Lily Nichol as Sheila and Ewan Miller as Keld, joined by Angela Sims, Daniel Abbott, Gina Bramhill, Zoe Goriely, and Ailsa Joy. Included, also, is a masterclass creative team, including director Kirsty Patrick Ward, set and costume design by Libby Watson, lighting by Jamie Platt, and sound and music by Ed Lewis.

Though The Rat Trap may not be Coward’s most famous play, it proves to be a fascinating piece of theatre history, full of sharp observations that still resonate with us today and great emotional tension. This centenary revival shows audiences just how relevant the story truly remains.