Smash Hit The 39 Steps Extends

Patrick Barlow's comic adaptation of John Buchan's classic The 39 Steps is to extend booking for a third time, until 9 February 2008, into its second year in the West End.

Maria Aitken's critically acclaimed production has been playing to sell-out houses at the Criterion since its transfer (from the Tricycle Theatre) where it continues to delight and thrill audiences and critics alike.  As well as winning this year's Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, The 39 Steps also won Best New Comedy at the 2007 Whatsonstage.com awards, voted for by theatregoers.  The current cast is Jimmy Chisholm, Simon Gregor, Rachel Pickup and Robert Portal.

Coincidentally the play, original film, Hitchcock and Buchan all celebrate their anniversaries in the month of August.  The 14th August is the first anniversary of the London production, 1st August was the release date for the original film, 13th August is the 108th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock's birth and the 29th August is the 132nd anniversary of John Buchan's birth. 

Prior to a Broadway run, The 39 Steps will play at the Huntington Theatre, Boston USA from 14th September and runs until 21st October.

Best known as Hitchcock's 1935 classic movie thriller, The 39 Steps has designs by Peter McKintosh, Lighting Design is by Ian Scott, Sound Design by Mic Pool, and Movement by Toby Sedgwick.   The 39 Steps is presented by Edward Snape for Fiery Angel Ltd and Tricycle London Productions Ltd in association with the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

"Maria Aitken's production is performed by four actors playing a minimum of 150 roles and contains every single legendary scene from the award-winning movie – including the chase on the Flying Scotsman, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the first theatrical bi-plane crash ever staged and the sensational death-defying finale in the London Palladium, besides many other favourite cinematic moments, including the memorable and controversial 'stockings and suspenders' scene!," state press notes.

THE 39 STEPS is now playing at The Criterion Theatre, Piccadilly, London

Performances: Monday – Saturday at 8pm, Matinees - Tuesdays at 3pm & Saturdays at 4pm