The Play That Goes Wrong extends West End booking & announces UK tour

The Play That Goes Wrong will launch a UK tour in 2017. 

Opening at the Theatre Royal Bath on 10th January, the production will visit 30 venues nationwide until the end of July 2017.

Venues include Newcastle Theatre Royal, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, The Mercury Theatre Colchester, Cambridge Arts Theatre and Mayflower Theatre Southampton with more to be confirmed. 

It has also been announced that the West End production has extended its booking period at the Duchess Theatre to 10th September 2017.

The Play That Goes Wrong announces new West End cast

The Play That Goes Wrong has announced its new cast who are joining the show at the Duchess Theatre from 29th June 2016.

Adam Byron will play Robert, with Drew Dillon as Dennis, Joanne Ferguson as Annie, Fred Gray as Trevor, April Hughes as Sandra, Oliver Llewellyn-Jenkins as Jonathan, Daniel Millar as Max and Hayden Wood as Chris. Completing the new cast are Adam Boakes, Katy Daghorn, George Haynes and Lindsey Scott.

The Play That Goes Wrong is co-written by Mischief Theatre company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields who originally starred in the show. The Play That Goes Wrong premiered at the Old Red Lion in 2013 before transferring to Trafalgar Studios 2 and then to Edinburgh. 

The Play That Goes Wrong extends West End run

The Play That Goes Wrong has extended its West End booking period at the Duchess Theatre to 26th February 2017.

The play is co-written by Mischief Theatre company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields who previously starred in the show which is directed by Mark Bell.

Created by Mischief Theatre, The Play That Goes Wrong premiered at the Old Red Lion in 2013 before transferring 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 opening to the West End’s Duchess Theatre in September 2014 where it recouped twelve weeks into its run. Countless international productions are already planned, including a possible Broadway transfer.

Competition: Win a pair of tickets to see The Play That Goes Wrong!

We are giving away a pair of tickets to The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre. To enter the competition, simply sign up to West End Frame's mailing list below.

The winner will be randomly selected at 10am on Tuesday 27th October 2015 (entries after this time will not be included). The prize is valid on Sunday to Friday performances until 30th November 2015 (excluding school holidays).

Even if you already subscribe to West End Frame's newsletter you still have to input your details below to enter this particular competition. You will not receive our newsletter twice (assuming you enter the same email address). Please read the terms and conditions below.

Peter Pan Goes Wrong transferring to the West End whilst The Play That Goes Wrong extends booking period

To celebrate its first birthday in the West End, The Play That Goes Wrong has extended its booking period at the Duchess Theatre to 11th September 2016.

It has also been announced that Peter Pan Goes Wrong, another play by Mischief Theatre, will transfer to the Apollo Theatre over the festive season. 

The production will star the original cast of The Play That Goes Wrong. Peter Pan Goes Wrong will run between 4th December 2015 and 31st January 2016. 

The Play That Goes Wrong announces new West End cast

The Play That Goes Wrong has announced that there will be a new, second cast taking to the stage at the Duchess Theatre from 18th August 2015. 

Leonard Cook will play Robert, Bryony Corrigan will play Sandra, Harry Kershaw will play Chris, Laura Kirman will play Annie, Chris Leask will play Trevor, James Marlowe will play Max, Laurence Pears will play Jonathan and Niall Ransome will play Dennis. The company is completed by Adam Byron, Matt Cavendish, April Hughes and Sarah Madigan.

The Play That Goes Wrong premiered at the Old Red Lion in 2013 before transferring 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 opening to the West End’s Duchess Theatre where it recouped twelve weeks into its run. Countless international productions are already planned, including a possible Broadway transfer.

The Play That Goes Wrong extends West End booking to February 2016

The Play That Goes Wrong has its extended its West End booking period at the Duchess Theatre to 14th February 2016. 

Press material states that the Olivier Award-nominated comedy "has also added the 14th February 2026 performance for those that would like to book ahead – but with tickets remaining at 2015 prices". Sounds like a bargain!

Producer Kenny Wax said: "It is remarkable that a booking taken accidentally by an intern ‘from The Duchess’ for what she thought was a one off charity performance for the Duchess of Grantham, has turned into a long running smash hit at the DUCHESS THEATRE in the heart of London's glittering West End. I have invited the intern to the Olivier Awards. It was the least I could do."

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.

The Play That Goes Wrong recoups after 12 weeks in the West End!

Producers of The Play That Goes Wrong have announced that the production has already recouped all of its production costs and is now turning a weekly profit! Fifteen international productions are in the pipeline and talks are ongoing to transfer the UK cast to New York in July.

The Play That Goes Wrong originally premiered as a one-act show at the Old Red Lion in London. It then transferred to the Trafalgar Studios 2 before running in Edinburgh and winning a WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Comedy. The Play That Goes Wrong then toured before opening in the West End. 

The Play That Goes Wrong has sold 170,000 tickets at a value of nearly £4,000,000. Writer and cast member Jonathan Sayer says: "Due to the amazing success of this production I will be taking my girlfriend on holiday and can now afford to buy myself a winter coat. I hope my girlfriend doesn't read this because the holiday is a surprise." 

The Play That Goes Wrong cast to perform monthly improvised shows at the Duchess Theatre

It has been announced that on the first Monday of each month the cast of The Play That Goes Wrong will showcase their improvisation skills, which have wowed Edinburgh Festival audiences for the past five years. The show is called Lights! Camera! Improvise!

Ever dreamed of creating your very own Hollywood motion picture? Imagine the possibilities. Awesome action sequences, heart-warming romances, ingenious plot twists and surprises at every turn. You choose the genre, the location and the title and the movie is brought to life before your very eyes while OSCAR, the resident 'film buff' can pause, rewind and fast forward scenes… with hilarious results!

The Play That Goes Wrong extends West End run

It has been announced that The Play That Goes Wrong has extended its West End run at the Duchess Theatre until 6th September 2015.

Following its premiere at the Old Red Lion Theatre, The Play That Goes Wrong transferred to Trafalgar Studios 2 and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before touring the UK. It opened in the West End last month to huge acclaim. The production has now been seen by over 100,000 people.

Co-written by Mischief Theatre company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields and directed by Mark Bell, The Play That Goes Wrong is described as a "highly physical comedy packed with finely-tuned farce and Buster Keaton-inspired slapstick delivered with split-second timing." 

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.

Competition: Win a pair of top price tickets to The Play That Goes Wrong!

As part of our summer competition series, we are giving away a pair of tickets to The Play That Goes Wrong which transfers to the Duchess Theatre in September.

To enter the competition, simply sign up to West End Frame's mailing list below. The winner will be randomly selected at 10am on Thursday 28th August 2014 (entries after this time will not be included). The prize is valid Wednesday to Friday performances from 6th September until 23rd November 2014.

The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!

The Play That Goes Wrong transfers to Duchess Theatre from September

It has been announced that The Play That Goes Wrong will transfer to the Duchess Theatre. The production opens on 14th September 2014 (previews from 5th September).

The Play That Goes Wrong burst onto the stage with phenomenal success last year, having originally opened as a one-act show at the Old Red Lion in London, before transferring to the Trafalgar Studios (Studio 2). Winners of the Whatsonstage.com award for Best New Comedy 2014, the acclaimed play is currently enjoying a 21 week tour which ends this July.

Guest Blog: From the Fringe to the West End & back again

Jonathan Sayer

On the first day of rehearsals we had a cast member drop out after being offered a part in a well paid advert. On the second day our director couldn't make rehearsals because his washing machine flooded his home and he had to wait for a handyman to rescue him. On the third day, the wall of the space we were using to rehearse fell down, nearly injuring most of the actors. For most productions this would be a terrible start, but for us it was perfect preparation….

The Play That Goes Wrong initially started as a short piece written by Henry Lewis when he was much younger. At the time he was attending the Questors Youth Theatre Programme and was lucky enough to be taught by Michael Green who wrote The Art of Coarse Acting and with it The Coarse Acting Plays. People have asked whether there is anyone or anything that has inspired the work and I'd say the two major influences are Michael Green and Lecoq clowning (which is something we did quite a lot of when we were at drama school).

The Play That Goes Wrong extends run at Trafalgar Studios 2

It has been announced that The Play That Goes Wrong has extended its run at Trafalgar Studios 2 by two weeks. The comedy will now stay in London until 1st June 2013.

Forgotten lines, inept actors and a set with its screws loose form the heart of the new comedy, which transferred to Trafalgar Studios following a run at the Old Red Lion earlier this year. Focusing on the many trials and tribulations of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, the play tells the story of the company’s staging of 1920’s murder mystery Murder at Haversham Manor.

Review: The Play That Goes Wrong at Trafalgar Studios 2

The Play That Goes Wrong
Trafalgar Studios 2
Reviewed on Friday 3rd May 2013

While watching The Play That Goes Wrong I heard noises from fellow audience members that I did not know existed. Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields' play is fast paced, manic and hugely outrageous. The title says it all - The Play That Goes Wrong is about the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society's production of Murder at Haversham Manor... which goes insanely wrong.

The Play That Goes Wrong transferring to Trafalgar Studios 2

Following its recent run at the Old Red Lion theatre, it has been announced that The Play That Goes Wrong will transfer to Trafalgar Studios 2, running from Tuesday 30th April 2013 until Saturday 18th May 2013. 

Focusing on the many trials and tribulations of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, the play tells the story of the company’s staging of 1920’s murder mystery Murder at Haversham Manor. Chris the arrogant head of the drama society has directed the piece and cast himself as the dynamic Inspector, while desperate wannabe actress Sandra and the genuinely doting Max struggle opposite each other as the romantic interests and actor Dennis still can’t pronounce “façade”. An hour of delicately timed disaster ensues; actors get knocked out, the play gets stuck on a loop and the set starts to disintegrate. 

Review: The Play That Goes Wrong at the Old Red Lion Theatre

The Play That Goes Wrong
Old Red Lion Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 14th March 2013 (Press Night)

The Play That Goes Wrong certainly does go wrong, in the most comical and excellent way. The play has been brilliantly written by three members of the cast: Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, and this production has been wonderfully directed by Mark Bell. The play is about amateur production of 1920s whodunit ‘Murder at Haversham Manor’that goes horribly wrong.