World’s Longest Running Play

Holding the record for the world’s longest-running play is The Mousetrap, a murder mystery play penned by Agatha Christie and based on a short story of hers, which, after all these years, has never been published in the UK. The story only appeared in a 1950 collection in the United States that was entitled Three Blind Mice and Other Stories. This West End whodunit play has been running at the St Martins Theatre for over an astonishing 70 years and with over 30,000 performances.

Longest Theatre Performance

This record was broken in July 1987 by Adrian Hilton, who recited the complete works of Shakespeare, lasting four and half days (110 hours, 46 minutes). The performance took place on London’s South Bank at the original Globe Theatre. Hilton currently works for the Department of Education at Oxford University.

Most Olivier Awards Ever Received by a Musical

This record is currently tied between Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical in 2012, Hamilton in 2018, Cabaret in 2022 and Sunset Boulevard in 2024 all of which garnered 7 Olivier Awards.

Most Olivier Awards Ever Received by a Play

You’re a winner, Harry! The current play to hold this record is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in 2017, with nine awards in total, including Best New Play.

First Theatre to be Named After an Actor

Garrick Theatre in 1889, named after David Garrick who is widely considered to be the most influential Shakespearean actor of all time.

Most Costume Changes Demanded for a Lead Theatrical Role

Des Coghlan-Forbes holds this record with 37 costume changes in the National Youth Music Theatre's performance of Our House at the Southwark Playhouse Theatre. 

Fastest Theatrical Production

Rubber Chicken Theatre in Stirling, UK, holds this record after creating a production in 9 hours, 59 minutes, and 3 seconds, with 200 performers and crew members involved.

Smallest Theatre in Operation

This record is held by the Kremlhoftheater in Austria with just 8 seats and a 1.3 metre x 1.3 metre stage. The minute theatre, which is reminiscent of a garden shed, opened in 2008 and has been performing regularly scheduled shows since 2010.

Longest Marathon Theatre Performance (Team)

This record has been held by Lamb’s Players Theatre in the USA since 2014 for their performance of over 50 plays and musicals during their 100 Hours of Stories marathon, which featured An Inspector Calls and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat among many other shows. The record stands at 76 hours, 18 minutes and 25 seconds and they were required to have at least 20 audience members registered at any given time.

Largest Simultaneous Performance of One Show in Multiple Locations

This record is held by Stagecoach Performing Arts, with 73 simultaneous performances of Beauty and the Beast taking place across the UK, Germany, and Canada.

BONUS: Fastest-selling Broadway cast album in iTunes history

In 2010, the Broadway production of The Book of Mormon broke records on iTunes in 2011 when it became the fastest-selling original cast recording in the music retailer's history, charting at #2 on the Billboard Top 200. It made the Top 5 on the Billboard Top 200 charts once more when the show won many Tony Awards in 2011.

Read our list for Another Top 10 World Records in Theatre here 

🎫 Purchase tickets for Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap play in London's West End.

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