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The Play That Goes Wrong is a farce about a fictional amateur theatre company trying—and increasingly failing—to stage a country-house murder mystery. Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, it premiered in London in 2012 and has played at the Duchess Theatre since 2014. A September 8, 2026 report says the London booking runs through January 30, 2028; check the theatre’s current information before planning a visit.
What is The Play That Goes Wrong about?
The play-within-a-play is The Murder at Haversham Manor, a country-house whodunnit staged by the fictional Cornley Drama Society. The amateur actors and crew try to carry on as cues are missed, physical mishaps mount and the production falls apart. The official synopsis keeps the question of who murdered Charles Haversham as a hook for the audience. Mischief’s official show page describes the premise.
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The comedy comes from watching performers attempt to preserve the appearance of a conventional mystery while the production itself becomes the spectacle. It is a scripted farce, not a documentary about a real theatre company.
Who wrote it, and when did it open?
Mischief credits Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields as writers. The company says the play premiered at London’s Old Red Lion Theatre pub on December 6, 2012. An early one-act version transferred to Trafalgar Studios in 2013; a two-act version toured the UK in 2014 before opening at the Duchess Theatre on September 14, 2014. Mischief’s production history gives these dates.
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Where can I see The Play That Goes Wrong in London?
The production is at the Duchess Theatre, according to Mischief’s official page. A West End Theatre report published September 8, 2026 says the booking period extends through January 30, 2028. Booking windows and ticket availability can change, so check the live theatre or seller listing for the performance date you want.
The same report lists a running time of 2 hours 5 minutes, including interval, and age guidance of 8+. These are reported visit details, not a guarantee for every performance; verify them with the venue before making plans. West End Theatre’s September 8, 2026 report also listed this London cast:
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Cast members may change. When comparing performances, check the date and availability, seat location and price, accessibility arrangements, and the ticket seller’s terms.
What happened to the Broadway production?
The Broadway production opened at the Lyceum Theatre on April 2, 2017, and closed on January 6, 2019. The Broadway League’s IBDB production record lists 737 performances and 27 previews. Mischief’s official page gives a different figure—745 regular performances and 27 previews—so the totals should be understood as separately attributed counts, not combined or treated as interchangeable.
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IBDB’s awards section records the 2017 Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play and the 2017 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design for a Play, both for scenic designer Nigel Hook. A separate milestone reported by West End Theatre on April 15, 2026 was the London production’s two-millionth West End visitor; the report attributed the figure to the producers, rather than to an independent audience study. West End Theatre reported the milestone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can a school or theatre company perform it?
Performance rights depend on territory and production type. Mischief says replica productions are licensed to international partners and points to Broadway Licensing for professional, amateur and school performances in the USA and Canada. The company also says UK performance rights are currently unavailable and replica licensing through Broadway Licensing is not available in the USA or Canada. Because eligibility and terms can change and vary by territory, contact the rights holder for current guidance before planning a production. Mischief’s official page outlines the rights information.
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