The Play That Goes Wrong celebrates 10 years in the West End

The smash-hit comedy The Play That Goes Wrong is celebrating its 10th anniversary in the West End today!

Co-written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, and directed by Mark Bell, the play has come a long way since its humble beginnings at the Old Red Lion theatre pub in 2012.

After a successful first West End stint at the Trafalgar Theatre, the show found a permanent home at the West End’s Duchess Theatre, where it has become the longest-running play at the venue and the longest-running comedy currently in the West End.

Now firmly established as one of the West End’s must-see comedies, The Play That Goes Wrong continues to delight audiences with its unique blend of chaos and laughter.

10 years is an incredible West End milestone for any show to achieve, with most shows playing for less than 2 years in London.

Today’s gala performance of the show will be followed by a big party hosted by Mischief Theatre and Producer Kenny Wax.

It’s a busy week for Kenny Wax, who also produces the hit musical Six, and brand new West End musical Why Am I So Single?, by the creators of Six, which also opens in the West End this week, playing at the Garrick Theatre.

Keeping a long-running show fresh

With its enduring success, The Play That Goes Wrong continues to welcome a vibrant rotation of talented cast members. The current West End lineup stars Jordan Akkaya as Trevor, Daniel Anthony as Dennis, Joe Bolland as Jonathan, Daniel Fraser as Chris, Billie Hamer as Annie, Owen Jenkins as Robert, Jay Olpin as Max, and Hannah Sinclair Robinson as Sandra. The understudies include Alex Bird, Munashe Chirisa, Colm Gleeson, Dumile Sibanda, and Alice Stokoe, each ready to bring their energy and skill to the stage.

Photos: The Play That Goes Wrong current London cast

10 Years of chaotic success

The Play That Goes Wrong has enjoyed a remarkable journey since its original production began in London in 2012. Winning Best New Comedy at the 2015 Laurence Olivier Awards, the show quickly became a fan favourite. It has since embarked on five UK tours and made a successful leap across the Atlantic with a Broadway run from 2017 to 2019, followed by an off-Broadway run where it continues to sell-out.

The show’s unique blend of slapstick and farce has captivated audiences worldwide, with performances in over 50 countries and more than 3.5 million viewers across every continent except Antarctica. The Play That Goes Wrong continues to prove that comedy knows no borders, delighting international audiences with its relentless and uproarious chaos.

The co-writers and original performers in the show, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields said last month in a statement: ‘We can’t quite believe it’s been 10 years since our show began its run at the Duchess Theatre. When we began our journey at the Old Red Lion Theatre – none of us imagined that The Play that Goes Wrong would have reached this milestone”. And we are delighted to be able to celebrate with our loyal audiences by releasing 360 front row tickets for £10 throughout our anniversary month of September”.