It's no mystery why classic Mousetrap is still running

It's the reason people go to London, along with seeing Big Ben and Madame Tussauds and the chance to argue with shopkeepers who refuse to take Scottish bank notes.

But now you don't have to make the trip - to see The Mousetrap that is.

It's here in town, and the great thing is, despite the fact it's been playing for 60 years, no one knows the ending.

Even people who have been to see the play don't know the ending.

Somehow, when they leave the theatre it dissolves in their minds, like sugar in water.

"That's true," says actor Henry Luxemburg, smiling.

"Few people know the ending. And those who do, don't tell."

The Mousetrap is one of the nation's best-kept secrets with even journalists complicit.

"And it doesn't matter how long it's been playing for," says Henry.

"If you haven't seen it, it's still fresh. It's like watching a classic film for the first time.

"You can still enjoy it regardless of how old it is."

Henry, who starred in Hollyoaks for two years at the beginning of his career, appears as Giles Ralston.

Giles and his wife Mollie (Joanna Croll), are a young married couple who have just opened a grand guesthouse, Monkswell Manor, and are expecting their new 'guests' to arrive.

An array of larger-than-life characters turn up - ranging from an ex -Colonel, an erratic young architect called Christopher Wren and a flamboyant Italian traveller, Mr Paravicini.

This is all fine, and possibly even a little Fawlty Towers - until the police phone the Manor to say there's been a murder in London. And the killer is on his way to the guesthouse.

Or he could be there already.

As you would expect, Agatha Christie's play contains more twists and scary turns than a ghost train. But of course it relies heavily upon British charm.

"I like playing Giles," says Henry.

"He looks after his wife and he has the values of that period. He has to be 'a man's man'.

"I also think men held themselves differently in the fifties and it's nice to explore that.

"But of course, when things go wrong, Giles has to cope. And it's great to go on that journey with him."

Henry Luxemburg has coped well with the ups and downs of an acting career. He was barely out of drama school when he landed the role of scheming murderer Toby Mills in Hollyoaks.

He's gone on to land TV roles such as Hotel Babylon and Doctors and a wide range of theatre roles, including panto.

"Was Hollyoaks too much too soon? Did he appreciate what he had at the time?

"I was 23 when I did Hollyoaks," he says. "It was fun and nice when people say nice things to you. And it was great getting that sort of attention at the start of my career.

"But I'd just left drama school and looking back I could have worked harder and rested more. But it was a great period.

"And in the past 10 years I've done a lot of different things."

Henry talks about the thrills of theatre work, the adrenalin rushes. Does he still get nervous?

"They never go completely," he admits. "It's a bit like motorway driving. You keep a level of concentration up and stay focused then after a long drive you feel exhausted.

"And you get the odd pang of fear when a lorry pulls out in front of you.

"In theatre, you get that when you drop a line. And then time goes slowly."

He adds, grinning: "You've got to keep your cool and work through it."

Acting is indeed a precarious business.

"Yes, it is," he says. "But if it's something you want to do then you have to, or you spend the rest of your life regretting it."

Henry enjoys the touring, being part of a travelling family.

"I love it," he says. "But it's also good to give each other space - and give them a chance not to become annoyed with me."

He adds: "Performing is inherently stressful, but amazingly, with this play I feel relaxed on stage.

"It's a pleasant environment to be in. The set is beautiful. It's like watching a Sunday night drama on TV. And it's Agatha Christie of course - it's an enchanting piece."

The Mousetrap opened in London in 1952, and has been running continuously since then. It has by far the longest initial run of any play in history.

However, Henry points out this production comes with it's own identity.

"What's happened before with this play isn't actually relevant to what we're doing with it," he maintains.

"Although the show has been running for 60 years, this is our take on it - and I hope and think that we've got it right."

l The Mousetrap, the Theatre Royal, until Saturday.