Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton are bringing their anthology show Inside No 9 to the West End stage, it’s been announced.
Wednesday will see the start of the ninth and final series of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s much-loved anthology show, Inside No 9. In the meantime, West End play called Stage/Fright has been announced. Written by and starring Pemberton and Shearsmith, the play will be directed by Simon Evans, and will run at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London from the 18th January to the 5th April 2025.
The play will not be an adaptation of any existing episodes, with Pemberton and Shearsmith penning an original tale which takes full advantage of the live setting. The description reads as follows:
Welcome to a world of intrigue, as we invite you to step Inside No 9 for a theatrical experience like no other. Expect the unexpected as the acclaimed BBC TV series comes to life on stage, weaving its signature web of twisted tales and black humour, from the eerie to the absurd, Inside No 9 – Stage/Fright combines comedy and horror with a dramatic script that will leave you guessing until the very end.
Familiar characters and stories will mix with brand new material by the genius of creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, who will also perform in the production, as they bring their unique brand of storytelling to the West End for a strictly limited season.
According to What’s On Stage, Pemberton and Shearsmith said, “We are currently writing the script even as it goes on sale, but we are certain there will be plenty of new material and surprises for fans and new-comers alike. There’ll be something old, something new, something butchered and something… BOO! We want to use the different things a theatre show can offer in terms of comedy – a collective audience behaves very differently to a solitary one, the laughter builds and the shared enjoyment is infectious. So there’ll definitely be some big comic moments, but also something a bit spooky and more dramatic.
“Inside No 9 viewers go into each episode not knowing what to expect and we want this to be the same for the theatre show, with the ability for each audience to experience the performance for the first time and go on that theatrical journey with us. On TV we have done everything from knockabout farce to psychological drama to full on horror. We’ve chosen the subtitle Stage/Fright, which does suggest something theatrical and something unsettling. But to say anymore would spoil the surprises and we would never do that. We want to deliver the perfect West End night at the theatre… we might even crack out a song if you’re lucky!”.
Inside No 9 has straddled many tones and genres over the years, from the sublime slapstick of A Quiet Night In (which featured Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter Oona Chaplin) to the astonishing drama of The Twelve Days Of Christine and, arguably the greatest episode, the beautiful ode to double acts Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room. If you’ve never had the pleasure, it’s a series well worth delving into.
Tickets go on sale at 7pm on Wednesday 8th May – the same day as the final series of Inside No 9 premieres on BBC One. You can find out more information here.
