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London Duchess Theatre

The Play That Goes Wrong

The Play That Goes Wrong tickets are the perfect tonic for every lover of slapstick, screwball West End theatre. The Play That Goes Wrong tickets guarantee a night out that will have you aching with laughter. So if you’re looking for the best night out in London, The Play That Goes Wrong theatre tickets will have you grinning from ear to ear! Banish the lockdown blues with a night of infectiously silly comedy! You’ll find your perfect tickets for The Play That Goes Wrong in London on sale here now. We’ve got great seats at all prices and you can even check out the best seat reviews on our interactive seat map.

 

The Play That Goes Wrong is genuinely hilarious!

What’s The Play That Goes Wrong about?

You all know the classic murder mystery set-up: A body has been found at a remote Country Manor and a police inspector is sent to unmask the culprit!

 

When Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society decides to stage a 1920s murder mystery, as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong... does! These accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences! 

 

Will the cast ever remember their lines? Will we ever find out who murdered Charles Haversham? And as the set collapses around them, can the Cornley Polytchnic Drama Society escape with their lives?

 

This five-star show, called a ‘Gut-busting hit' by the New York Times and described by the likes of Ant and Dec as the 'funniest show we've seen!’ The Play That Goes Wrong is now ready to stumble into its seventh catastrophic year at London’s Duchess Theatre. You’ll be reduced to tears of joy! 

All About Mischief Theatre company

Since devising The Play That Goes Wrong, Mischief Theatre Company has gone from strength to strength, creating a series of hugely successful West End shows including The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Lights! Camera! Improvise! and Mischief Movie Night, Groan Ups and Magic Goes Wrong. In April 2020, Mischief Theatre began a weekly podcast "Mischief Makers", focusing on the members of Mischief Theatre. 

The Play That Goes Wrong awards

The Play That Goes Wrong definitely went right when it came to winning awards, scooping the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Comedy in 2014. Since then, it has also collected the BroadwayWorld UK Award for Best New Play, an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play. 

The Play That Goes Wrong – five biggest theatre no-nos

If you don’t want your play to go wrong, here are our top five tips to avoid calamity:

 

1. Never whistle backstage. This goes back to the time that sailors on shore-leave used to operate the rigging in theatres. They communicated by whistling, so whistle in the wrong place and you might unexpectedly find a large piece of scenery landing on your head.
2. Don’t mention “The Scottish Play”. Actually, that’s fine…just don’t call it Macbeth. This old theatre superstition has various origins – our favourite is that the spells used by Shakespeare were so real, that productions are often plagued by accidents and misfortune.
3. Don’t say “good luck” – it’s bad luck. Instead, tell your fellow actors to break a leg. This dates back to the days of vaudeville, when acts would wait backstage to be told whether they would appear or not (‘breaking the leg’ of the curtain and appearing onstage). If they didn’t ‘break the leg’, they didn’t get paid!
4. Keep a ‘ghost light’ on stage when the theatre is closed. This is said to appease any spirits haunting the theatre. Less poetic explanations include avoiding accidents for theatre staff crossing the stage in the dark, and avoiding explosions in the days when theatre lighting was powered by gas.
5. Bad dress rehearsal = good performance. The worst thing that can curse a show is for everything to go smoothly before the show opens to the public. 

What critics said about The Play That Goes Wrong

“It’s as though The Mousetrap has been taken over by Monty Python.” WhatsOnStage
“A masterpiece of malfunction.” The Times
“I feared I was going to hyperventilate.” The Daily Mail
"I have seldom, if ever, heard louder or more sustained laughter in a theatre." The Telegraph
“Gloriously Preposterous.” The Stage 

The Play That Goes Wrong news

Stage Fright: 10 Things That Should Not Have Happened Live On Stage! 6 October, 2017
On Stage Disasters: When Peter Pan Goes REALLY Wrong! 20 November, 2016

Cast

The Play That Goes Wrong Cast & Creatives

The London cast includes:

Chris – Ross Green
Dennis – Michael Keane
Robert – David Kirkbride
Jonathan – Elan James
Sandra – Ellie Morris
Max – Milo Clarke
Annie – Ciara Morris
Trevor – Blayer Benn
Authors – Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields
Director – Mark Bell
Designer – Nigel Hook
Lighting – Ric Mountjoy

Duration

2 hours and 5 minutes including one 20 minute interval.

Good To Know

The theatre is fitted with a Williams Sound hearing assistance system. Headsets are available on a first come first served basis.

Stalls N1 and J14 provide wheelchair spaces, with companion seats adjacent.

There are Ladies and Gentlemen’s toilets on all levels.

No suitcase storage at the venue.

Additional Details & FAQ

Access Information

For Accessibility information please contact 0330 333 4815 or email access@nimaxtheatres.com

Sunday 6th November at 3pm is a relaxed performance and bookable through the access channels.

Cancellation Policy

No refund or exchanges are available after purchase.

Suitable For Children

8+

Please note children under 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult over 18 years of age.

Where Do I Go

3-5 Catherine Street

London, WC2B 5LA.

By Tube- Covent Garden

Reviews

4.6(50 reviews)
4.2 ( 50 seat reviews )

  • Paula

    Nov 20, 2023

    Lots of slap stick, bit repetitive

  • Penny Wright

    Nov 13, 2023

    From the second it begins its an immersive experience that keeps kicking it up a notch until you think they can go no further and yet they still do! The physicality and timing are truly exceptional and every movement, accent, expression is perfect and even when not the focal point they hold true to character and keep you laughing. A must see!!

  • Vilma Gulbinaite

    Nov 5, 2023

    Fantastic, energetic, full of laughter, unexpected and fully engaging!!!

From £22.00