About the Play:

The Play That Goes Wrong High School Edition is a full-length comedy by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields. An inept and accident-prone amateur theatre company attempts to perform a 1920s murder mystery. From collapsing sets to missed cues and malfunctioning props, everything that can go wrong does – with side-splitting results. The Play That Goes Wrong – now adapted specially for high school performers – is a global phenomenon that's guaranteed to leave your audience aching with laughter!

The Play That Goes Wrong High School Edition is a specially adapted version of the original hit comedy about a drama society attempting to stage a murder mystery called "The Murder at Haversham Manor". This hilarious Olivier Award winning 'Play within a Play' follows the misadventures of the hapless The Cornley Drama Society, who are trying their very best to stage its newest production. But things soon go awry as the leading lady is knocked unconscious, the corpse refuses to play dead and the actors trip over everything, including their lines! Despite the mishaps, the accident-prone performers push through, intent on completing the performance of a 1920s whodunit while attempting to fool their audience into thinking absolutely nothing is wrong. Can they get the production back on track before the final curtain falls? Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, The Play That Goes Wrong High School Edition retains the core humour, slapstick mishaps, and theatrical chaos that define the original, but with simplified staging, dialogue, and content appropriate for high school performers and audiences.

The Play That Goes Wrong began in 2012 and quickly gained popularity for its inventive humour and clever staging. Its success in the West End and on Broadway led to various adaptations, including this high school edition for drama clubs, school theater productions, and drama classes, offering a fun, engaging, and manageable performance that highlights improvisational skills, comedic timing, and teamwork among students.

Cast: 2 female, 2 male, 4 any gender (adult)

What people say:

"A gut-busting hit! The audience roared as loudly as the crowds at any wrestling match." — New York Times

"Hilarious…a ridiculously entertaining disaster." — Entertainment Weekly

"It's as though The Mousetrap has been taken over by Monty Python." — WhatsOnStage (UK)

"A masterpiece of malfunction." — Times of London (UK)

About the Playwright:

Henry Shields is an award-winning writer and actor. He trained at LAMDA and has been a member of Mischief Theatre since 2009.

Jonathan Sayer is an Olivier award-winning writer, actor and is the Company Director of Mischief Theatre.

Henry Lewis is an award-winning writer and actor. He trained at LAMDA and has been a member of Mischief Theatre since 2009.