Big Interview: Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields

Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields are the stars and co-writers of The Play That Goes Wrong. 

The trio are members of improvised theatre company Mischief Theatre who originally staged The Play That Goes Wrong at the Old Red Lion – a fringe theatre in Angel – two years ago. 

Following its premiere the piece transferred to Trafalgar Studios 2 and then to Edinburgh. Following sell out and critically acclaimed runs, The Play That Goes Wrong launched a UK Tour before transferring to the West End’s Duchess Theatre where it recouped twelve weeks into its now-extended season. Countless international productions are already planned, including a possible Broadway transfer. 

The Play That Goes Wrong has been nominated for Best New Comedy at this year’s Olivier Awards. Mischief Theatre have also brought their improv show ‘Lights! Camera! Improvise!’ to the West End, performing to sold out crowds once a month, and their new stage show Peter Pan Goes Wrong recently launched its UK Tour. 

Summed up perfectly by its title, The Play That Goes Wrong follows the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s disastrous attempt to put on a 1920's murder mystery.

I recently sat down with Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields in their West End dressing room to discuss The Play That Goes Wrong’s incredible journey to the West End, how the piece has developed and what extreme audience reactions they have experienced. We also talked about getting stuck in dog flaps, performing impro in a cupboard in Poland and much, much more…

Two years ago I received an email inviting me to press night of The Play Goes Wrong at the Old Red Lion Theatre in Camden… and now here we are sat in your West End dressing room! What is it like to look back at the last two years? Have you had the chance to take it all in?

Jonathan Sayer: I sent you that email! It’s all happened incredibly quickly, and I think things are still happening incredibly quickly so no, there isn’t really the chance to breathe and take it in. People say, “you’ve taken it in your stride” but I don’t think we have, it’s just happened so quickly and we’ve gone along with it. 

Henry Shields: We’ve just got used to not knowing what’s going on and just being like, ‘oh the next thing’s happened’. We’re used to not knowing where we are.

Review: The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre

The Play That Goes Wrong 
Duchess Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 12th September 2014
★★★★

When I was sent an email inviting me to review a new comedy at a little fringe venue by an improvised theatre company in March 2013 I never thought that a year and a half later I would be invited to review the play's West End transfer!

The Play That Goes Wrong is summed up perfectly by its title; the piece follows the 'Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society' as they put on a 1920's murder mystery... but of course things don't quite go as planned - in fact (if you hadn't already guessed by now) things go spectacularly wrong.

Anyone who has performed in, worked on or watched a piece of amdram theatre will totally relate to this show. There are lines forgotten, missing props and last minute understudies... not to mention a set which turns out to be a death trap.

Review: Bakersfield Mist starring Kathleen Turner & Ian McDiarmid at the Duchess Theatre

Bakersfield Mist 
Duchess Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 28th May 2014

It's so refreshing to see a new eighty-minute play about something other than love or self-discovery. Stephen Sachs' extraordinary piece delves into what makes art and people truly authentic. Instead of dragging the play out across two acts, the two hander runs for eighty minutes without an interval. Not a dull moment passes; breaking for an interval simply wouldn't work.

Kathleen Turner makes her return to the London stage as Maude, an ex-barwoman who has found herself in possession of a painting which she thinks is a Jackson Pollock – which means it would be worth millions. Turner stars opposite Ian McDiarmid who plays renowned art expert Lionel Percy. Lionel visits Maude to authenticate the painting, and from here on after the play spirals into brilliance.

Turner's stage presence is naturally commanding. Her comic timing is smart as she knows exactly when to hold back and when to give her all. Bakersfield Mist has some superb moments of comical brilliance and the audience responded with warmth, applauding throughout. It's not just a comedy though, as Bakersfield Mist takes several darker twists - Sachs' writing is clever as it's hard to predict exactly what's around the corner and ultimately we are able to make up our own minds.

Review: Cool Rider at the Duchess Theatre

Cool Rider
Duchess Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 16th April 2014

I woke up this morning thinking 'did that really happen?' Following the overwhelming sell-out success of the one-night-only staging of Cool Rider (known to some as Grease 2) at the Lyric Theatre earlier this year, the show has returned to the West End, running at the Duchess Theatre for just seven performances.

Cool Rider returns for week-long run at the Duchess Theatre

Ashleigh Gray in Cool Rider

Following its one night success at the Lyric Theatre earlier this year, Cool Rider (the cult musical sequel to Grease) will return to the West End for one week only. 

The production will open at the Duchess Theatre on Wednesday 16th April 2014 (previews from 15th April) and run until Saturday 19th April 2014.

Ashleigh Gray and Aaron Sidwell will once again sing the roles of Stephanie and Michael which were played by Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield in the movie.

Ashleigh Gray’s recently returned to the West End production of Wicked as standby Elphaba. Her credits include: Martha in the UK Tour of The Secret Garden, Lorraine in the UK Tour of I Dreamed A Dream, Kim in the UK Tour of Taboo, Miss Lynch in the UK Tour of Grease, Emily in Myths and Hymns at the Finborough Theatre and Miranda in Betwixt at Trafalgar Studios. Ashleigh has also made guest appearances in Momentous Musicals, Susan Boyle in Concert, Lee Mead at The Pheasantry and West End Men.

Kathleen Turner to star in Bakersfield Mist at the Duchess Theatre

The Daily Mail has announced that Kathleen Turner will star in the European premiere of Stephen Sachs’s comedy-drama Bakersfield Mist. The production is set to open at the Duchess Theatre, also starring Ian McDiarmid, in May 2014. 

Kathleen is currently rehearsing to play Mother Courage in a production which opens at the Arena Theatre in Washington DC later this month. In 2005 she starred as Martha in a Broadway revival of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, receiveing a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play. The production transferred to the West End's Apollo Theatre the following year.

Tell Me On a Sunday transfers to the Duchess Theatre starring Marti Webb

It has been announced that the original production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s Tell Me On a Sunday will transfer to the Duchess Theatre following this weeks sell-out run at the St. James Theatre. The musical's original star, Marti Webb, is reprising her iconic performance. The production will open at the Duchess Theatre on Tuesday 18th February for a limited two week run.

Review: The Wind in the Willows at the Duchess Theatre

The Wind in the Willows

Duchess Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 18th December 2013

Surprisingly The Wind in the Willows marks the Royal Opera House's first ever commercial West End transfer. Will Tuckett's production is the definition of transfixing, when the interval came I realised that never before had I ever felt so relaxed whilst sat in a theatre.

Tony Robinson to star in The Wind in the Willows, full casting announced

Full casting has been announced for the West End transfer of The Wind in the Willows. It has been revealed that Tony Robinson will star as Kenneth Grahame, who narrates the Royal Opera House’s production.

The Wind in the Willows marks the Royal Opera House's first commercial transfer to the West End. The iconic story is brought to life through song, music, dance and puppetry. The production, directed and choreographed by Will Tuckett, will open at the Duchess Theatre on Monday 16th December 2013 (previews from 11th December) and will run until 1st February 2014. 

Tony Robinson (pictured right) has enjoyed a long career in television, having presented twenty seasons of Channel 4's archaeology series Time Team and played Baldrick in Blackadder amongst many other credits. He is an award-winning children’s television writer and the author of more than thirty children’s books. The Wind in the Willows sees Tony return to the stage for the first time since 1997. He has previously appeared in the West End, at Chichester Festival Theatre and the National Theatre, as well as with the RSC. Tony received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2013.

Review: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at the Duchess Theatre

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui 

Duchess Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 19th September 2013

Following a successful run at the Chichester Festival Theatre last year, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui has transferred to the West End's Duchess Theatre. The play, which is Bertolt Brecht's take on the rise of Hitler, somehow manages to be both funny and powerful and, of course, incredibly dark.