39 Steps - London

Adapted by Patrick Barlow from John Buchans well-loved novel and Alfred Hitchcocks breathtaking film, The 39 Steps - directed by Maria Aitken - is still going as strong as ever after clocking up over 1000 performances earlier this year. As well as 300 pairs of seamed nylon stockings, the production has used the following props across these performances: 15 pairs of handcuffs, 200 O/S maps of Scotland, five bin-liners of paper snow and 200 litres of wet snow fluid, five 1930s GPO black telephones, six Olympic 38 blank firing revolvers and 2000 38 blank 9mm cartridges, 125 Repro Evening Despatch newspapers of 1935 and 1000 litres clear apple juice (whisky), 500 pints of skimmed milk and 1000 large uncut farmhouse loaves. The show spreads. A Hungarian production opened recently and future productions are planned for Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Poland and Portugal. The current London cast of this truly international hit comprises Nigel Betts, Tessa Churchyard, Alan Perrin and Robert Portal.