Mischief Theatre’s acclaimed production of comedy farce The Play That Goes Wrong will transfer to the Duchess Theatre this September following its current national tour.
The hit show, which premiered at the Old Red Lion Theatre last year before transferring to the Trafalgar Studios, will return to the capital for a third run from 5 September (press night 14 September).
Billed as “a highly physical comedy packed with finely-tuned farce and Buster Keaton inspired slapstick”, The Play That Goes Wrong follows the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they attempt to stage a 1920s murder mystery. As the title of the play might suggest, not everything goes to plan and the accident prone thespians are forced to battle their way against all odds to the final curtain call.
Directed by Mark Bell, the show is performed by co-writers Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields alongside fellow Mischief Theatre company members Charlie Russell, Dave Hearn, Greg Tannahill, Nancy Wallinger and Rob Falconer.
When The Play That Goes Wrong opened at the Trafalgar Studio 2 in July 2013, The Telegraph’s Charles Spencer described the show as “an enduring cult hit in the making… full of bright ideas and preposterous gags”.
Producer Kenny Wax, whose own visit to the intimate Whitehall venue led to the forthcoming West End transfer, said: “I was so excited by this courageous young group of actors that we offered them a deal on the spot. I should add that I have never been quite so impulsive before and had no idea if the regional theatres would even book the show. But I had a real desire to help this bunch of daredevil and totally committed young actors to bring their show to a wider audience.”
The Play That Goes Wrong will open at the Duchess Theatre following the UK premiere of Bakersfield Mist, which will see Kathleen Turner return to the London stage from 10 May.