Mischief Theatre Announce Residency At The Vaudeville and new show Groan Ups
From the parents of The Play That Goes Wrong comes a brand-new comedy all about growing up. Are we the same people at 30 as we were at 13? Does school life determine our future? Do we ever grow out of our school crush? Playing an unruly classroom of kids and anarchic high school teenagers, through to the aches and pains of adulthood, the original Mischief company are back in the West End with their first new play since 2016.
The cast includes original company members Dave Hearn, Henry Lewis, Charlie Russell, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields and Nancy Zamit alongside Bryony Corrigan. Groan Ups will open in September 2019.
Mischief Theatre was founded in 2008 by a group of graduates of The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and began as an improvised comedy group. Mischief Theatre performs across the UK and internationally with improvised and original scripted work. Their other production The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is currently at the Criterion Theatre and on a national UK tour whilst The Play That Goes Wrong is also on a national UK tour and is has recently completed a two year run on Broadway. The company is led by Artistic Director Henry Lewis and Company Director Jonathan Sayer.
Groan Ups is produced in the West End by Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd.
Henry Lewis, Artistic Director of Mischief Theatre, and Jonathan Sayer, Company Director of Mischief Theatre, said
‘We couldn’t be more delighted to have been invited by Nica Burns and Nimax Theatres to take over the Vaudeville Theatre for an entire year. They took a leap of faith with us back in 2014 by putting The Play That Goes Wrong on in the West End so we just hope we can do them proud! Mischief Theatre is incredibly grateful for this amazing opportunity and now we can make sure the laughs continue for audiences.’
Nica Burns, co-founder of Nimax Theatres, said
‘In 2016 Mischief Theatre had three comedies running at the same time in the West End: The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess, Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the Apollo and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery at the Criterion. Mischief’s three writers, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, were all under 30. An extraordinary achievement and probably a world record. We jumped at the chance to partner with Mischief and their producers Kenny Wax and Stage Presence to present a truly record breaking three brand new comedies in one year at the Vaudeville. From New York to Christchurch and many cities in between, audiences have been falling over with laughter at Mischief’s antics. In fact, the seats at the Duchess have been rocked with so much laughter in the last five years that we are replacing them!’
Kenny Wax, producer of Groan Ups and The Play That Goes Wrong, said
‘In seven years, to have graduated from a pub theatre filler slot to a three play 12 month residency at the Vaudeville (courtesy of the tremendously supportive Nica Burns) to sit alongside their two long running comedies at the Duchess and Criterion, a record breaking run on Broadway and productions currently running on every continent except Antarctica, the meteoric rise of this extraordinarily talented group of writers and actors seems to know no bounds. As Producers we are delighted to have guided their journey and become their friends.’
Further productions to be announced in due course.
BOX OFFICE INFORMATION
GROAN UPS
GROAN UPS
Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields
Directed by Kirsty Patrick Ward
20 September – 1 December 2019
Vaudeville Theatre
404 Strand
London WC2R 0NH
Booking number: 0330 333 4814
Website: nimaxtheatres.com
PERFORMANCE TIMES:
Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm
Saturday at 2:30pm
Sunday at 3:00pm & 7:00pm
AGE: Recommended age 13+
Prices: Tickets from £20.00
Groups: £29.50 10+
Tues, Weds, Thurs and Sun EVES, Excludes School holiday weeks
Schools: £19.50 10+
Tues, Weds and Thurs, Excludes School holiday weeks
