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John Buchan's gripping thriller was filmed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935. It is now tailored for the stage having transferred to the West End after having a sensational run in the Tricycle Theatre.

John Buchan, the author of The Thirty Nine Steps, was a Scottish writer born on 26th August, 1875. He is noted for his horror fiction, including the novel Witch Wood, The Wind in the Portico and The Green Wildebeest. He was at some point Governor General of Canada. In 1915, he published his most famous book. It's really a spy thriller set just before the outbreak of World War One. It includes his leading man Richard Hannay. It is said that Hannay was influenced by an associate from his period in South African, Edmund Ironside.

The 39 Steps stands out as the first of several works of fiction that includes Richard Hannay. He is an action hero and a amazing custom of getting himself out of discomforting predicaments. The book influenced Alfred Hitchcock's classic film of the same title. The stage version truly does credit to the exhilaration and drama of the unique storyline.

Did you know? Fascinating Facts! Robert Donat played Richard Hannay and Madeleine Carroll played Pamela in The 39 Steps in 1935. The actual 39 steps are situated at North Foreland, not far from Broadstairs on the Isle of Thanet. They are a set of tunnelled stairways leading down to the beach from a private estate. The author was staying in the town recovering from illness in a villa during 1914.

A short background involving the Criterion Theatre, London: In 1870 soon after the purchase of the 17th century White Bear Inn site, and adjoining premises between Jermyn Street and Piccadilly Circus (known as Regent Circus), caterers Spiers and Pond commissioned Thomas Verity to design and style a brand-new development consisting of a significant restaurant, dining rooms, ballroom, and galleried concert hall. Having commenced building work it was resolved to alter the suggested concert hall, (though retaining the actual composers names which still line the tiled stairs to this day), to a theatre which opened on 21st March, 1874.

The first production consisted of An American Lady, written and performed by the manager Henry J Byron and a piece by W.S. Gilbert (part of the Gilbert and Sullivan) titled Topseyturveydom. Under the management of Charles Wyndham, The Criterion became the leading comedy house in London. Between the 1st and 2nd World Wars productions included Musical Chairs with John Gielgud, and in 1936 a three year run of French Without Tears which launched the career of Terence Rattigan.

During World War 2 The Criterion was requisitioned by the BBC, as an underground theatre it was an ideal studio for light entertainment both recorded and live. After the war works such as Beckett's Waiting for Godot and pieces by Anouilh, Dario Fo and others.

In the 1970's the whole of the Criterion Theatre site was proposed for redevelopment, which caused huge protest as people feared the theatre would be lost forever. Throughout the 70's and early 80's the Equity Save London's Theatre Committee organised high profile demonstrations.

Campaigners included John Gielgud, Diana Rigg, Edward Woodward, Robert Morley and Prunella Scales. Finally the theatre's foreseeable future was secured though afterwards, the theatre shut down from 1989, until reopening in October 1992 while the Criterion block of which stands these days, was built around it. Having been through large refurbishment both back, and front of house, The Criterion Theatre retains a very nearly flawlessly preserved Victorian auditorium, with all of its intimacy and atmosphere.

The theatre reopened with Ennio Marchetto. From 1996 to 2005 The Reduced Shakespeare Company nailed audiences with their 30+ 'snippets' from Shakespeare, together with one performance being carried out 'backwards'! The theatre retains its Victorian auditorium which provides this theatre a private and atmospheric appeal for artistes and audiences.