REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
The Play That Goes Wrong
Cliffs Pavilion
2nd May - 7th May 2022
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
The Play That Goes Wrong
Cliffs Pavilion
2nd May - 7th May 2022
The Play That Goes Wrong is performed by Mischief Theatre, a company whose numbers have multiplied, thanks to the huge popularity of their productions. It is now performed in 20 countries around the world and the company's other productions, which include Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, Groan Ups and Magic Goes Wrong, have been lapped up by appreciative audiences. In more recent years they have been performing for tv audiences who have been tuning in to watch Peter Pan Goes Wrong starring David Suchet, Christmas Carol Goes Wrong with Sir Derek Jacobi and Dame Diana Rigg, as well as the Goes Wrong Show tv series.
Mischief was originated by LAMDA graduates back in 2008. The Play That Goes Wrong was written by three of those graduates, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields and went on to win Best New Comedy at both the Olivers and WhatsOnStage Awards.
The premise of the play is the performance of a murder mystery performed by the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society. However, The Murder at Haversham Manor is consequently riddled with many unfortunate, and ultimately hilarious, setbacks.
Anyone who has been involved in amateur dramatics will, I expect, find that this play resonates quite heavily. At one time or another we will have been at that one show where a cast member forgets their line or enters Stage Left 10 seconds too late; or perhaps who, in the middle of a serious monologue wondered why the audience were laughing as unbeknownst to them, the wallpaper on the wall behind them has slowly limped its way down to the floor (yep, all me).
Mischief was originated by LAMDA graduates back in 2008. The Play That Goes Wrong was written by three of those graduates, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields and went on to win Best New Comedy at both the Olivers and WhatsOnStage Awards.
The premise of the play is the performance of a murder mystery performed by the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society. However, The Murder at Haversham Manor is consequently riddled with many unfortunate, and ultimately hilarious, setbacks.
Anyone who has been involved in amateur dramatics will, I expect, find that this play resonates quite heavily. At one time or another we will have been at that one show where a cast member forgets their line or enters Stage Left 10 seconds too late; or perhaps who, in the middle of a serious monologue wondered why the audience were laughing as unbeknownst to them, the wallpaper on the wall behind them has slowly limped its way down to the floor (yep, all me).
Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, however, have the absolute monopoly of things going wrong in their production, much to the delight of the audience. Before the play even begins, the audience are in for a treat. Trevor, the techie, brilliantly played by Gabriel Paul has lost his Duran Duran CD and backstage are looking for Winston the dog who has gone missing. The set is clearly still not quite finished and Annie, the Stage Manager (Beth Lilly) drags up an unsuspecting audience member to help; fortunately, after much hilarity, they get to go back to their seat before the play begins.
Charles Haversham has been murdered and is discovered by Thomas Colleymore and Perkins the butler, but who is the murderer? Florence Colleymore was about to be engaged to Charles but it would seem that perhaps her attentions were for someone else. Can Inspector Carter solve the crime? Things start to 'go wrong' almost immediately when the door gets stuck and the actors can't get on to the stage.
Chris Bean, played by Colin Burnicle is the Director of The Murder at Haversham Manor, as well as performing as Inspector Carter. He does a fabulous skit mid show when he can't find a ledger that has been mis-placed. There are so many things that 'go wrong' it's hard to count but the pace of the show is such that you are left feeling exhausted by the constant shenanigans happening on stage. God knows how the cast do it every night, twice on matinee days!
The cast work so brilliantly together where timing is crucial; and they glean every ounce of laughter from the audience. Heaped with slapstick and actual (stage) slaps, not least when Annie, who has to take over when Florence is knocked out and subsequently discovers she quite likes the limelight, fights off Sandra (Aisha Numah) for the role. Pictures fall off walls, props are misplaced, the set is nearly burnt down and there is one whole scenario where Kazeem Tosin Amore as Robert has us all on tenterhooks, but, I won't spoil the moment because it is the whole element of surprise that keeps the audience utterly gripped to this production.
Damien James gives a great performance as Dennis, who plays Perkins. He has a problem pronouncing certain words and has them written on his hands much to the chagrin of the rest of the cast and there is also one hilarious moment where he forgets a line and the whole scene gets played over and over. I think we do finally find out who the murderer is but it doesn't really matter because there are far too many distractions. Huge kudos to Set Designer Nigel Hook for such an amazing set and to tech and stage management team, Thomas Platt, Hayley Craven, Joseph Brown and Jack Eaton who have the unenviable task of having to put the set and props together for every performance.
Every new cast of this production have a big shoes to fill as the original cast really placed the bar high but these guys had the Southend audience squealing with horror and roaring with laughter throughout the evening and I don't think I've ever heard such a vocally appreciative audience at curtain call for a play at the Cliffs Pavilion before. The Play Goes Wrong has such a strong appeal to audiences of all ages and it's wonderful to see a good turnout for this touring production. Let's face it, with everything going on in the world right now, laughter is something we can all do with and The Play That Goes Wrong is just the tonic - as Thomas Colleymore would say, "Good God, I needed that!"
Review: Kim Tobin
The Play That Goes Wrong continues until Saturday 7th May 2022 at the Cliffs Pavilion.
Mon 2 - Sat 7 May SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion
Eves 7.30pm Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS0 7RA
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm | www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk
More tour details below
Charles Haversham has been murdered and is discovered by Thomas Colleymore and Perkins the butler, but who is the murderer? Florence Colleymore was about to be engaged to Charles but it would seem that perhaps her attentions were for someone else. Can Inspector Carter solve the crime? Things start to 'go wrong' almost immediately when the door gets stuck and the actors can't get on to the stage.
Chris Bean, played by Colin Burnicle is the Director of The Murder at Haversham Manor, as well as performing as Inspector Carter. He does a fabulous skit mid show when he can't find a ledger that has been mis-placed. There are so many things that 'go wrong' it's hard to count but the pace of the show is such that you are left feeling exhausted by the constant shenanigans happening on stage. God knows how the cast do it every night, twice on matinee days!
The cast work so brilliantly together where timing is crucial; and they glean every ounce of laughter from the audience. Heaped with slapstick and actual (stage) slaps, not least when Annie, who has to take over when Florence is knocked out and subsequently discovers she quite likes the limelight, fights off Sandra (Aisha Numah) for the role. Pictures fall off walls, props are misplaced, the set is nearly burnt down and there is one whole scenario where Kazeem Tosin Amore as Robert has us all on tenterhooks, but, I won't spoil the moment because it is the whole element of surprise that keeps the audience utterly gripped to this production.
Damien James gives a great performance as Dennis, who plays Perkins. He has a problem pronouncing certain words and has them written on his hands much to the chagrin of the rest of the cast and there is also one hilarious moment where he forgets a line and the whole scene gets played over and over. I think we do finally find out who the murderer is but it doesn't really matter because there are far too many distractions. Huge kudos to Set Designer Nigel Hook for such an amazing set and to tech and stage management team, Thomas Platt, Hayley Craven, Joseph Brown and Jack Eaton who have the unenviable task of having to put the set and props together for every performance.
Every new cast of this production have a big shoes to fill as the original cast really placed the bar high but these guys had the Southend audience squealing with horror and roaring with laughter throughout the evening and I don't think I've ever heard such a vocally appreciative audience at curtain call for a play at the Cliffs Pavilion before. The Play Goes Wrong has such a strong appeal to audiences of all ages and it's wonderful to see a good turnout for this touring production. Let's face it, with everything going on in the world right now, laughter is something we can all do with and The Play That Goes Wrong is just the tonic - as Thomas Colleymore would say, "Good God, I needed that!"
Review: Kim Tobin
The Play That Goes Wrong continues until Saturday 7th May 2022 at the Cliffs Pavilion.
Mon 2 - Sat 7 May SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion
Eves 7.30pm Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS0 7RA
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm | www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk
More tour details below
THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG IS BACK ON TOUR!
CRASHING INTO THEATRES NATIONWIDE
FROM 20 APRIL 2022
INTERVIEW WITH CO-WRITER, JONATHAN SAYER BELOW!
CRASHING INTO THEATRES NATIONWIDE
FROM 20 APRIL 2022
INTERVIEW WITH CO-WRITER, JONATHAN SAYER BELOW!
The Play That Goes Wrong, the Olivier Award-winning box office hit that continues to entertain audiences on a global scale, will return to its touring roots and embark on its fifth UK tour this spring. The production will open at Theatre Royal Bath on 20 April before visiting Mold, Southend, Leicester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Plymouth, Bristol, Sheffield, Hull, Milton Keynes and Dartford, with further dates to be announced.
Photos by Robert Day featuring the 2021 touring cast
Awarded the 2014 WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Comedy, the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and a Tony Award for the Broadway transfer, The Play That Goes Wrong is now booking into its ninth year in the West End and continues to delight audiences around the world. The show’s success is a testament to the hard work and determination of a group of drama school graduates who became friends, set up a company under the name ‘Mischief’ and created an extraordinary body of work. The Play That Goes Wrong shows no signs of slowing down since its first performance at a London fringe venue with only four paying customers. Since then, it has played to an audience of over two million and now has productions in over 30 countries.
The play features the (fictional) Cornley Drama Society who are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! As the accident prone thesps battle against all the odds to reach their final curtain call, hilarious results ensue!
The play features the (fictional) Cornley Drama Society who are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! As the accident prone thesps battle against all the odds to reach their final curtain call, hilarious results ensue!
Mischief’s other West End successes include Magic Goes Wrong, Groan Ups, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Mischief Movie Night and A Comedy About A Bank Robbery. Magic Goes Wrong and Groan Ups are also currently touring the UK. The second series of their award-winning television comedy, The Goes Wrong Show, launched on BBC One in September 2021. The five-part series was broadcast weekly and is currently available on BBC iPlayer. The company is owned and controlled by its original members and is led by a creative group and its directors Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer.
The Play That Goes Wrong is co-written by Mischief company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields. The tour is directed by Sean Turner, originally directed by Mark Bell, with set designs by Nigel Hook, costumes by Roberto Surace, lighting by Ric Mountjoy and sound design by Andy Johnson. Casting for the 2022 UK tour is yet to be announced. The Play That Goes Wrong is produced by Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd.
theplaythatgoeswrong.com @playgoeswrong
mischiefcomedy.com @mischiefcomedy
The Play That Goes Wrong is co-written by Mischief company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields. The tour is directed by Sean Turner, originally directed by Mark Bell, with set designs by Nigel Hook, costumes by Roberto Surace, lighting by Ric Mountjoy and sound design by Andy Johnson. Casting for the 2022 UK tour is yet to be announced. The Play That Goes Wrong is produced by Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd.
theplaythatgoeswrong.com @playgoeswrong
mischiefcomedy.com @mischiefcomedy
Mischief’s Olivier award-winning box office hit, The Play That Goes Wrong, has fast become a global phenomenon with productions across every continent (aside from Antarctica!). Now the West End’s longest running comedy, enjoying its eighth year at the Duchess Theatre, returns for its fifth major UK tour.
We spoke to one of the co-writers Jonathan Sayer:
We spoke to one of the co-writers Jonathan Sayer:
How would you describe the show to someone who hasn’t seen it?
It’s a comedy all about a drama university group who are putting on a play and everything that could possibly go wrong…goes wrong. There's a big cast, there's lots of jokes and it pretty much does what it says on the tin.
Who are Mischief?
Mischief Theatre started off in 2008 as a group that specialised in improvised comedy but now we create new comedy for theatre and television. We began performing in Edinburgh and London and are now bringing our work to lots of different places all over the world!
Where did you get the idea for The Play That Goes Wrong?
There are three writers so there are a few different answers. I suppose we have all worked in theatre and have experiences of things going awry in shows we have been in. Some of my favourite moments watching theatre has been where things have gone dreadfully wrong and the actors are forced to deal with the mistake and try to keep the show on track.
On top of that a huge influence for us is a man called Michael Green who wrote The Art of Coarse Acting and actually taught one of the writers, Henry Lewis, at youth theatre. Then there's a huge amount of physical comedy which is definitely a nod to Chaplin and Keaton.
How did you create the script?
The three of us were living together at the time in a pretty run down flat in Gunnersbury. We were all working in bars and call centres and restaurants and, in the evenings, we'd come home and we'd write until the early hours. The initial script I think took about a month to put together and we then workshopped the script with the rest of the Mischief team. Everyone's done a lot of improv so we try and take those principles into the writing room and into rehearsal where if someone has an idea you accept it and you build on it.
We all made a pact together a long time ago that if something isn’t funny we'd just say it isn’t funny. I think writing comedy is like plumbing – if a guy comes round to fix your taps and they're still leaking, you say it's still leaking. He won't be upset, it's just a practical thing and I think you've got to try and approach this work in the same way. It's subjective and you've got to have personal distance. As long as you're always scrutinizing in a positive way, that's only going to make the work better.
You can be honest. Are the unfortunate actors depicted based on anyone in real life?
Haha! Nobody is being directly spoofed! The characters were all found in rehearsal and through performing in front of an audience.
That said we’ve all been part of productions that have gone wrong and we’ve all made mistakes on stage (although hopefully nothing as catastrophic as in this play!) so there’s a lot of experience to draw on for finding who the characters are and how they respond to embarrassment.
It’s a comedy all about a drama university group who are putting on a play and everything that could possibly go wrong…goes wrong. There's a big cast, there's lots of jokes and it pretty much does what it says on the tin.
Who are Mischief?
Mischief Theatre started off in 2008 as a group that specialised in improvised comedy but now we create new comedy for theatre and television. We began performing in Edinburgh and London and are now bringing our work to lots of different places all over the world!
Where did you get the idea for The Play That Goes Wrong?
There are three writers so there are a few different answers. I suppose we have all worked in theatre and have experiences of things going awry in shows we have been in. Some of my favourite moments watching theatre has been where things have gone dreadfully wrong and the actors are forced to deal with the mistake and try to keep the show on track.
On top of that a huge influence for us is a man called Michael Green who wrote The Art of Coarse Acting and actually taught one of the writers, Henry Lewis, at youth theatre. Then there's a huge amount of physical comedy which is definitely a nod to Chaplin and Keaton.
How did you create the script?
The three of us were living together at the time in a pretty run down flat in Gunnersbury. We were all working in bars and call centres and restaurants and, in the evenings, we'd come home and we'd write until the early hours. The initial script I think took about a month to put together and we then workshopped the script with the rest of the Mischief team. Everyone's done a lot of improv so we try and take those principles into the writing room and into rehearsal where if someone has an idea you accept it and you build on it.
We all made a pact together a long time ago that if something isn’t funny we'd just say it isn’t funny. I think writing comedy is like plumbing – if a guy comes round to fix your taps and they're still leaking, you say it's still leaking. He won't be upset, it's just a practical thing and I think you've got to try and approach this work in the same way. It's subjective and you've got to have personal distance. As long as you're always scrutinizing in a positive way, that's only going to make the work better.
You can be honest. Are the unfortunate actors depicted based on anyone in real life?
Haha! Nobody is being directly spoofed! The characters were all found in rehearsal and through performing in front of an audience.
That said we’ve all been part of productions that have gone wrong and we’ve all made mistakes on stage (although hopefully nothing as catastrophic as in this play!) so there’s a lot of experience to draw on for finding who the characters are and how they respond to embarrassment.
Some of the events in the play seem like an actor’s worst nightmare! Have you had any feedback from actors themselves?
Lots of actors come up to us at the end of shows, be they professional or amateur, with some fantastic stories of things that have happened to them in different productions. I think the show has quite a cathartic effect for them. But it's not just actors, I think the idea of making a fool of yourself in front of a huge number of people is something that everyone can relate to. Everyone has felt that feeling where they want the ground to open up and swallow them, so they get on side with the characters in the play and they really want them to get to the end of the show!
This show’s journey has been a rags to riches story. Has the success of the show surprised you?
Absolutely. I remember about 10 years ago performing in our improv show and there were more people on stage than there were in the audience so of course it's a surprise! We've been totally blown away by the response. We're so thrilled that people enjoy the work and the characters and that we've been able to make so many different people laugh. The show began in such a small way performing in a 60-seater pub theatre so for it now to be being enjoyed in huge venues all around the world is very humbling and wonderful.
Over 35 countries worldwide have performed a Mischief Production. We went to Budapest and watched a replica of The Play That Goes Wrong where everything was exactly the same other than it was being performed in Hungarian. So many things have been born out of this very tiny thing, and that's amazing.
Lots of actors come up to us at the end of shows, be they professional or amateur, with some fantastic stories of things that have happened to them in different productions. I think the show has quite a cathartic effect for them. But it's not just actors, I think the idea of making a fool of yourself in front of a huge number of people is something that everyone can relate to. Everyone has felt that feeling where they want the ground to open up and swallow them, so they get on side with the characters in the play and they really want them to get to the end of the show!
This show’s journey has been a rags to riches story. Has the success of the show surprised you?
Absolutely. I remember about 10 years ago performing in our improv show and there were more people on stage than there were in the audience so of course it's a surprise! We've been totally blown away by the response. We're so thrilled that people enjoy the work and the characters and that we've been able to make so many different people laugh. The show began in such a small way performing in a 60-seater pub theatre so for it now to be being enjoyed in huge venues all around the world is very humbling and wonderful.
Over 35 countries worldwide have performed a Mischief Production. We went to Budapest and watched a replica of The Play That Goes Wrong where everything was exactly the same other than it was being performed in Hungarian. So many things have been born out of this very tiny thing, and that's amazing.
UK Tour 2022
Mon 2 - Sat 7 May SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion
Eves 7.30pm Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS0 7RA
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm | www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk
Mon 9 - Sat 14 May LEICESTER Curve
Performance times coming soon 60 Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1SB
BOX OFFICE 0116 242 3595 | curveonline.co.uk
Mon 16 - Sat 21 May BIRMINGHAM The Alexandra
Eves 7.30pm Suffolk Street, Queensway, Birmingham B5 4DS
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 0333 0096690 | atgtickets.com/birmingham
Mon 23 - Sat 28 May LIVERPOOL Empire Theatre
Eves 7.30pm Lime Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 1JE
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 0333 0096690 | atgtickets.com/liverpool
Mon 30 May - Sat 4 June MANCHESTER Opera House
Eves 7.30pm 3 Quay Street, Manchester M3 3HP
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 0333 0096690 | atgtickets.com/manchester
Mon 6 - Sat 11 June NEWCASTLE Theatre Royal
Eves 7.30pm 100 Grey St, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 6BR
Mats Thu 2pm & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 08448 11 21 21 | theatreroyal.co.uk
Mon 27 June - Sat 2 July PLYMOUTH Theatre Royal Plymouth
Eves 7.30pm Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR
Mats Thu & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 01752 267222 | theatreroyal.com
Mon 4 - Sat 9 July BRISTOL Hippodrome
Eves 7.30pm St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 0333 0096690 | atgtickets.com/bristol
Mon 11 - Sat 16 July SHEFFIELD Lyceum Theatre
Eves 7.30pm 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA
Mats Thu 2pm & Sat 3pm BOX OFFICE 0114 249 6000 | sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Mon 18 – Sat 23 July HULL New Theatre
Performance times coming soon Kingston Square, Hull HU1 3HF
BOX OFFICE 01482 300 306 | hulltheatres.co.uk
Mon 25 - Sat 30 July MILTON KEYNES Theatre
Eves 7.30pm 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 0333 0096690 | atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes
Mon 1 - Sat 6 August DARTFORD Orchard Theatre
Eves 7.30pm Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 01322 220000 | orchardtheatre.co.uk
Further dates to be announced…
theplaythatgoeswrong.com
Mon 2 - Sat 7 May SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion
Eves 7.30pm Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS0 7RA
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm | www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk
Mon 9 - Sat 14 May LEICESTER Curve
Performance times coming soon 60 Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1SB
BOX OFFICE 0116 242 3595 | curveonline.co.uk
Mon 16 - Sat 21 May BIRMINGHAM The Alexandra
Eves 7.30pm Suffolk Street, Queensway, Birmingham B5 4DS
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 0333 0096690 | atgtickets.com/birmingham
Mon 23 - Sat 28 May LIVERPOOL Empire Theatre
Eves 7.30pm Lime Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 1JE
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 0333 0096690 | atgtickets.com/liverpool
Mon 30 May - Sat 4 June MANCHESTER Opera House
Eves 7.30pm 3 Quay Street, Manchester M3 3HP
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 0333 0096690 | atgtickets.com/manchester
Mon 6 - Sat 11 June NEWCASTLE Theatre Royal
Eves 7.30pm 100 Grey St, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 6BR
Mats Thu 2pm & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 08448 11 21 21 | theatreroyal.co.uk
Mon 27 June - Sat 2 July PLYMOUTH Theatre Royal Plymouth
Eves 7.30pm Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR
Mats Thu & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 01752 267222 | theatreroyal.com
Mon 4 - Sat 9 July BRISTOL Hippodrome
Eves 7.30pm St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 0333 0096690 | atgtickets.com/bristol
Mon 11 - Sat 16 July SHEFFIELD Lyceum Theatre
Eves 7.30pm 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA
Mats Thu 2pm & Sat 3pm BOX OFFICE 0114 249 6000 | sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Mon 18 – Sat 23 July HULL New Theatre
Performance times coming soon Kingston Square, Hull HU1 3HF
BOX OFFICE 01482 300 306 | hulltheatres.co.uk
Mon 25 - Sat 30 July MILTON KEYNES Theatre
Eves 7.30pm 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 0333 0096690 | atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes
Mon 1 - Sat 6 August DARTFORD Orchard Theatre
Eves 7.30pm Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED
Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm BOX OFFICE 01322 220000 | orchardtheatre.co.uk
Further dates to be announced…
theplaythatgoeswrong.com