• Venue Duchess Theatre, London
  • Performance dates Booking to 3 October 2027
  • Running time 2 hours 5 minutes (including interval)
  • Age guidelines 8+
  • Offer: Save up to 54% Valid select performances  from 1 Sep 2026 to 26 Nov 2026 . Book by 13 Sep

The Play that Goes Wrong in London

The 2015 Olivier Award-winning comedy The Play That Goes Wrong is playing at the Duchess Theatre, with performances now booking into October 2027.

Created by Mischief Theatre, this smash-hit West End comedy follows the accident-prone Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they attempt to stage a classic murder mystery – with disastrously hilarious results.

From collapsing sets and missed cues to flying props and forgotten lines, The Play That Goes Wrong delivers nonstop chaos, perfectly timed physical comedy and huge laughs from start to finish.

What to Expect

Calling to mind classic whodunnits like The 39 Steps and The Mousetrap, The Play That Goes Wrong turns the premise on its head by, well, going wrong. Collapsing sets, missed cues and forgotten lines become the main character and the audience is in on the secret.

Book The Play That Goes Wrong tickets

Get your tickets now for The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre.

About The Play That Goes Wrong

You all know the classic whodunnit: there’s been a murder at a country manor and an inspector is on the case to uncover the culprit. But when this story falls into the hands of the accident-prone thespians of The Cornley Drama Society, everything that can go wrong… does!

As the actors and crew battle against all odds to make it to their final curtain call, the production descends into total mayhem, with hilarious consequences. Will the mystery of who murdered Charles Haversham ever be solved? You’ll have to see for yourself!

★★★★★
“I haven't laughed so much for years”
Independent on Sunday
★★★★★
“I feared I was going to hyperventilate”
The Daily Mail
★★★★
“A masterpiece of malfunction”
The Times

Videos & Photos

Performance Information

Check booking calendar for full details

Tickets by Month
Aug 2026
Sep 2026
Oct 2026
Nov 2026
Dec 2026
Jan 2027
Feb 2027
Mar 2027
Apr 2027
May 2027
Jun 2027
Jul 2027
Aug 2027

Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of The Play That Goes Wrong?

  • Annie: Ruby Ablett
  • Chris: Matthew Spencer
  • Robert: Raphael Bushay
  • Jonathan: Luke Wilson
  • Sandra: Lucinda Turner
  • Dennis: Alex Bird
  • Max: Joshua Lendon
  • Trevor: Kieron Michael
  • Winston: Winston the Dog
  • Understudies: Paige Round, Harry Al-Adwani, Tom Quinn, Will Bishop, and Phoenix Edwards

Who are the creative team of The Play That Goes Wrong?

The Play That Goes Wrong is co-written by Mischief company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields and is directed by Mark Bell, with set designs by Nigel Hook, costumes by Roberto Surace, lighting by Ric Mountjoy, original music by Rob Falconer, sound design by Andy Johnson, the associate director is Sean Turner and the resident director is Amy Marchant.

Important Notes

Access Performances

  • Audio described: Friday 25 Sept 2026 at 7.30pm & Sunday 18th April 2027 at 3pm 
  • Captioned: Sunday 19th September 2026 at 3pm & Friday 5th February 2027 at 7:30pm 
  • BSL: Friday 13 November 2026 at 7.30pm &  Sunday 14th March 2027 at 2:30pm 

Venue Information

Duchess Theatre , 3-5 Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5LA

Nearest Tube or Train: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line)

Nearest Buses: 1, 4, 6, 11, 13, 15, 23, 26, 59, 68, 76, 77A, 91, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341

Directions

Google Apple

Critics' reviews of The Play That Goes Wrong

★★★★★ “I haven't laughed so much for years” Independent on Sunday

★★★★★ “I feared I was going to hyperventilate” The Daily Mail

★★★★★ “Perfectly timed comedy” WestEndTheatre.com

★★★★ “A triumph of split second timing” METRO

★★★★ “A joyous show builds to a delirious climax” Financial Times

★★★★ “A masterpiece of malfunction” The Times

★★★★ “Exquisitely choreographed mayhem” Independent

★★★★ “Genuinely Hilarious. Boy does it hit the funny bone” The Telegraph

★★★★ “Gloriously Preposterous” The Stage

★★★★ “A beautiful theatrical paradox” LondonTheatre

★★★ “Very, very funny” The Guardian

★★★ “A technical triumph” TimeOut

★★★ “Perpetually funny” The Standard

Average Critics' Review Score: 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ (13)

Frequently Asked Questions

The Play That Goes Wrong is playing at the Duchess Theatre in London
The running time of The Play That Goes Wrong is 2 hours 5 minutes (including interval)
The age recommendations for The Play That Goes Wrong are: 8+
To buy official London Theatre tickets to The Play That Goes Wrong, click on the Get Tickets button at the top of this page. You will be able to access the booking calendar to check live ticket availability and prices and see any exclusive offers or discounts. You will be purchasing tickets from an authorised retailer and member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers.
Yes, The Play That Goes Wrong has matinee performances on the following days: Saturday, Sunday
Yes, there are currently ticket offers available for The Play That Goes Wrong: Ticket Offer - Save up to 54%, with tickets from £26. Click on the Find Tickets button to see available offer dates.
The Play That Goes Wrong follows the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they attempt to stage a 1920s murder mystery. The production quickly descends into hilarious chaos as the scenery collapses, props malfunction, and the cast struggles to keep the show going against all odds.
As an Olivier Award-winning production, it is widely considered one of the funniest West End shows. Its popularity stems from its relentless physical comedy, world-class slapstick, and the Mischief Theatre brand of perfectly timed theatrical disaster.
No. The Play That Goes Wrong is a comedy play, not a musical. However, it features high-energy physical performance and a fast-paced script that appeals to fans of both plays and musical theatre.
Yes, the production is recommended for ages 8 and over. The show is a popular choice for families looking for comedy London theatre shows in the West End.
The Play That Goes Wrong was created by Mischief Theatre, the award-winning comedy team consisting of Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields.

The show runs for approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, including an interval.

  • Evening performances (7:30pm start): Finish at approximately 9:35pm.
  • Matinee performances (2:30pm start): Finish at approximately 4:35pm.

Note: Always check your specific ticket for start times (7:00pm or 3:00pm), which will shift the finish time accordingly.

News about The Play That Goes Wrong

More Great Plays

See all