After 10 Years, The Agatha Christie Style Who-Dunnit Delivers On Its Name

Celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year, The Play That Goes Wrong has cemented its place as the longest-running comedy show in West End history. Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, it has been a worldwide comedic sensation since its debut. The play follows the historically unfortunate Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they attempt to stage a 1920s Agatha Christie-style murder mystery. True to the name, everything that can go wrong, does. With a crumbling set, misplaced props, and forgotten lines, the production is a masterclass in controlled chaos.

Despite the name, the true brilliance of The Play That Goes Wrong' came not from what went wrong, but from the actors' determination to press on despite it. The contrast between their resolute professionalism and the escalating disaster is what makes the comedy soar. Owen Jenkins, in particular, delivered a standout performance, channeling an almost Alan Partridge-level of sincerity as he persevered through disastrous situations at one point continuing his role while trapped under an evergrowing pile of furniture. The dedication to maintaining composure while surrounded by absurdity is a testament to the heart of British humour: straight-faced perseverance in the face of calamity.

Despite the production's undeniable brilliance, the pacing is where the production falters. While the unforgiving disarray was certainly enjoyable at times, the relentless barrage of gags became somewhat tiring. There's only so much physical comedymoving dead bodies, botched prop handling, or misplaced entrancesthat remains funny before it starts to feel predictable and repetitive. The rapid-fire delivery of jokes leaves little room for comedic tension to build, and as a result, punchlines occasionally feel premature or miss their mark. With such an emphasis on slapstick, the moments of subtle wit - which are often the most rewarding - tend to get buried under the sheer volume of people falling over'.

The Play That Goes Wrong is undeniably entertaining, and it's easy to see why it has enjoyed such enduring success on London's West End. It's a testament to the cast's physicality, timing, and unflagging commitment to the absurdity of it all. If you're looking for something more nuanced than constant pratfalls and slapstick, you might find the humour wearing painfully thin by the second act. But if you want to be unforgivingly entertained - this is the play that does it right.

View our show pages for more information about The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre.