Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright

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Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright
Inside No 9 Stage Fright.jpeg
Wyndham's Theatre, West End poster
Written by Steve Pemberton
Reece Shearsmith
Based on Inside No. 9
by Steve Pemberton
Reece Shearsmith
Date premiered16 January 2025
Place premiered Wyndham's Theatre, London
Original languageEnglish
GenreBlack comedy
Horror
Drama
https://insideno9onstage.com/

Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright is a black comedy horror play by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, based on the BBC black comedy anthology series Inside No. 9 . The play has a run time of 2 hours 20 minutes including a 20 minute interval, and features references to the TV series, including a performance of the episode "Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room" as well as new characters and storyline.

Contents

The play opened at the Wyndham's Theatre in London's West End from 18 January 2025 for a limited run until 5 April, directed by Simon Evans. [1] Tickets for the 85 shows were released on 8 May 2024. Each performance featured a celebrity guest star, which included Lee Mack, Ian McKellen, David Tennant and Bob Mortimer. The show also toured the UK during autumn 2025, before returning to London for a final run at the Hammersmith Apollo in January 2026.

Synopsis

Act One

The show begins with an audience on stage watching a performance of Hamlet . As Charles begins to watch the performance, the members around him, Angus, Antonia and Daddy become too distracting causing Charles to kill each of them before turning to the audience reminding them "Ladies and gentlemen, may I please remind you that you are in a theatre. No coughing, no eating and no mobile phones."

Shearsmith and Pemberton step in front of the red curtain to introduce the show and explain that the theatre is haunted and that the introduction is based on an incident that happened a number of years ago where Mr Dowling was in such a state of grieving for his wife that he killed three audience members. They explain about a Grand Guignol play called La Terreur de L'aisle or "Terror at the Asylum" was performed however its lead actress Madame Belle Catron was killed during a scene that went wrong and her ghost has since haunted the theatre called Bloody Belle. Suggesting that Mr Dowling might have seen Bloody Belle's ghost or the ghost of his late wife, they ask “For what is a ghost but a memory? A way of keeping a loved one’s memory alive? Maybe every ghost story is really just a love story.” They also explain the tradition of the ghost light before Pemberton sceptically encourages the audience to summon Bloody Belle by saying her name three times.

In the next scene, the episode Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room is performed. Thomas "Tommy" Shelby (Shearsmith) arrives on an empty stage with props and a ghost light to meet his former "Cheese N Crackers" double act partner Len Drake (Pemberton) to attempt practice their old routines. Shelby who has moved on from showbusiness has moved on while Drake is enthusiastic about starting again. Tommy reminds Len that he owes him £25 for "Bernie Clifton's dressing room" in which Len doesn't recall what he means.

As Len goes out for a cigarette, Tommy reads a script that he has written about two burglars Eddie and Ray (played by Pemberton and Shearsmith respectively in the episode "A Quiet Night In") who have mistakenly broken into the wrong house and taken a celebrity hostage (in which the celebrity is different every performance). The celebrity is tasked with an improvisational script before Shearsmith accidentally shoots them dead, before they take a bow in front of red curtain and handed flowers.

As the scene goes back to the episode, Tommy discovers that Len has been homeless by finding his belongings who insists that he never wanted any money, just to have Tommy by his side performing again. In rehearsing their final routine "Brown Bottles" which involves Len drinking 7 bottles of beer within the song. Tommy reminds Len that one night when performing Len collapsed in Bernie Clifton's dressing room choking on his own vomit and reveals that he stopped performing because of fear that Len would kill himself due to his alcohol addiction. Len's daughter Leanne walks to find Tommy who in fact has been on his own the whole time as it is revealed that Len died and he is preparing for his funeral speech. She gives him a card with £25 from Len.

As the first half ends, the ghost light starts flickering. After Tommy leaves the stage, Bloody Belle appears.

Act Two

The second act begins with a performance of La Terreur de L'aisle. Suzette arrives at Dr. Goudron's asylum to treat for her migraines and is greeted by Cragg, one of the nurses. Hugo, one of the insane patients arrives who is believed to be the Goudron, however Goudron enters and offers a pain-free hypnotic method for operation (by which he demonstrates by convincing Hugo to surgically remove his own leg).

As violence and cahos ensures, Abby, a theatre usher and aspiring actress, enters with a coffee order ruining what is in fact a rehearsal for the play. Rehearsals continue using a camera and a screen on stage as Abby discusses the curse of Bloody Belle with the director Marcus (and Hugo), Vincent Gannymeade (Goudron) and the play's celebrity leading actress Sherrie Leeks (Suzette).

After the rehearsal and theatre has been emptied and the ghost light has been left on, Sherrie and Abby stay behind to rehearse the play's lines. They begin to see movements on the camera and screen, which Sherrie uses the light on the camera to guide herself around the empty theatre to investigate the noises. Having lost Abby, she makes her way back onto the stage where she is frightened away by seemingly the ghost of Bloody Belle, which turns out to be Abby pretending in a ruse by her and Marcus to make Sherrie quit the play and attract publicity. As Marcus rejects the idea of Abby taking over from Sherrie, Abbie becomes possessed and strangles him as the real Bloody Belle appears.

In what is seemingly the curtain call for Stage/Fright, the cast take their bow before Pemberton steps forward to thank the audience for their support explaining that Shearsmith had in fact died before the show's run began, revealing Toby his understudy had played Shearsmith's roles in the performance, ending with applause and an obituary photo of Shearsmith on the screen.

As the curtain falls, the audience can still hear Pemberton on his microphone get killed by a falling stage light. The curtain rises to see him being greeted by Shearsmith's ghost much to his annoyance that Pemberton still continued to go ahead with the show and that the "twist" was that he was dead. The show ends with the Shearsmith, Pemberton and the company performing "Tears of Laughter" (the finale number from the episode Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room) all dressed in white on Cloud 9.

Production history

West End (2025)

The play opened at the Wyndham's Theatre in London's West End on 16 January 2025 and ran until 5 April, starring Pemberton and Shearsmith. It was directed by Simon Evans featuring set design by Grace Smart, costume design by Yves Barre, lighting design by Neil Austin, sound design by Ed Lewis, illusions by John Bulleid and video and projection design by Duncan Mclean. [2] [3] [4]

UK tour (2025)

Following the success of the West End run, the show began touring the UK in autumn 2025, starting at Churchill Theatre, Bromley (5–6 September) before touring to Milton Keynes Theatre (9–13 September), Sunderland Empire Theatre (16–20 September), Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (23–26 September), The Alexandra, Birmingham (7–11 October), Manchester Opera House (14–18 October), New Victoria Theatre, Woking (21–25 October), Hull New Theatre (28 October–1 November), New Theatre Oxford (4–8 November), Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent (11–15 November), Liverpool Empire Theatre (18–22 November) and Edinburgh Playhouse (25–29 November) before returning to The Alexandra, Birmingham (2–6 December) due to popular demand. [5]

Hammersmith (2026)

Following the UK tour, the show played a run for the final time at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London from 2 to 6 January 2026. [6] The final celebrity guest star was Bernie Clifton (who the episode Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room performed in the show is named after).

Cast

CharacterWest End [7] UK tourHammersmith
20252026
Himself
Angus
Len Shelby (Crackers)
Eddie
Vincent Gannymeade (Goudron)		 Steve Pemberton
Himself
Charles
Tommy Drake (Cheese)
Ray
Marcus de Lorde (Hugo/Director)		 Reece Shearsmith
Leanne
Sherrie Leeks (Suzette)		Miranda Hennessy
Antonia
Maggie Philbine (Cragg)		 Anna Francolini Sarah Moyle
AbbyGaby French
Daddy
Jack Foundling (Warden)		Bhav Joshi
Bloody Belle
Lisa Smelling (Madame Goudron)		Rebecca Bainbridge
TobyToby Manley

Dates and guest stars

LocationDateGuest star
West End (2025)
Wyndham's Theatre, London (West End)Thursday 16 January Jim Howick
Friday 17 January Ralf Little
Saturday 18 January Kevin Eldon
Monday 20 January David Morrissey
Tuesday 21 January Marc Wootton
Wednesday 22 January Adrian Dunbar
Thursday 23 January Nick Mohammed
Friday 24 January Katherine Parkinson
Saturday 25 January (Matinee) Gary Kemp
Saturday 25 January (Evening) Martin Freeman
Monday 27 January Matthew Kelly
Tuesday 28 January Lee Mack
Wednesday 29 January Alexander Armstrong
Thursday 30 January Daniel Mays
Friday 31 January Mathew Baynton
Saturday 1 February (Matinee) Les Dennis
Saturday 1 February (Evening) David Harewood
Monday 3 February Tamsin Greig
Tuesday 4 February Monica Dolan
Wednesday 5 February Ophelia Lovibond
Thursday 6 February (Matinee) Julian Rhind-Tutt
Thursday 6 February (Evening) Paterson Joseph
Friday 7 February Mel Giedroyc
Saturday 8 February (Matinee) Denis Lawson
Saturday 8 February (Evening) Sue Perkins
Monday 10 February Dara Ó Briain
Tuesday 11 February Rory Kinnear
Wednesday 12 February Matt Berry
Thursday 13 February (Matinee) Mackenzie Crook
Thursday 13 February (Evening) Mark Bonnar
Friday 14 February Phil Daniels
Saturday 15 February (Matinee) Emilia Fox
Saturday 15 February (Evening) Sarah Hadland
Monday 17 February Gemma Whelan
Tuesday 18 February Joe Thomas
Wednesday 19 February Lenny Henry
Thursday 20 February (Matinee) Mathew Horne
Thursday 20 February (Evening) Nigel Planer
Friday 21 February Charlie Higson
Saturday 22 February (Matinee) Morgana Robinson
Saturday 22 February (Evening) Mark Gatiss
Monday 24 February Rob Brydon
Tuesday 25 February Gareth Malone
Wednesday 26 February Liza Tarbuck
Thursday 27 February (Matinee) Bob Mortimer
Thursday 27 February (Evening) Julian Clary
Friday 28 February Stephen Merchant
Saturday 1 March (Matinee) Robin Askwith
Saturday 1 March (Evening) Matt Lucas
Monday 3 March Jane Horrocks
Tuesday 4 March Joel Dommett
Wednesday 5 March Alex Horne
Thursday 6 March (Matinee) Micky Flanagan
Thursday 6 March (Evening) Josh Widdicombe
Friday 7 March Joe Pasquale
Saturday 8 March (Matinee) Paul Chuckle
Saturday 8 March (Evening) Michael Sheen
Monday 10 March Stewart Lee
Tuesday 11 March Chris McCausland
Wednesday 12 March David Walliams
Thursday 13 March (Matinee) Pauline McLynn
Thursday 13 March (Evening) Richard Osman
Friday 14 March Tamzin Outhwaite
Saturday 15 March (Matinee) Clive Anderson
Saturday 15 March (Evening) Stephen Fry
Monday 17 March Paul Merton
Tuesday 18 March Mark Addy
Wednesday 19 March Adam Buxton
Thursday 20 March (Matinee) Elaine Paige
Thursday 20 March (Evening) Jason Manford
Friday 21 March Romesh Ranganathan
Saturday 22 March (Matinee) Neil Morrissey
Saturday 22 March (Evening) Paul Whitehouse
Monday 24 March Simon Pegg
Tuesday 25 March Meera Syal
Wednesday 26 March Robert Lindsay
Thursday 27 March (Matinee) Danny Dyer
Thursday 27 March (Evening) Su Pollard
Friday 28 March Danny Baker
Saturday 29 March (Matinee) Ross Noble
Saturday 29 March (Evening) Professor Brian Cox
Monday 31 March David Tennant
Tuesday 1 April Sandi Toksvig
Wednesday 2 April Sophie Willan
Thursday 3 April (Matinee) Miles Jupp
Thursday 3 April (Evening) Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Friday 4 April Ian McKellen
Saturday 5 April (Matinee) Louis Theroux
Saturday 5 April (Evening) Jonathan Ross
UK tour (2025)
Churchill Theatre, Bromley Friday 5 September Richard Herring
Saturday 6 September (Matinee) Griff Rhys Jones
Saturday 6 September (Evening) Debbie McGee
Milton Keynes Theatre Tuesday 9 September Kevin Whately
Wednesday 10 September Sara Pascoe
Thursday 11 September Roisin Conaty
Friday 12 September Greg Rutherford
Saturday 13 September (Matinee) Jon Richardson
Saturday 13 September (Evening) Joe Pasquale
Sunderland Empire Theatre Tuesday 16 SeptemberMiss Rory (Dan Cunningham)
Wednesday 17 September Chris Ramsey
Thursday 18 September Rosie Ramsey
Friday 19 September Jill Halfpenny
Saturday 20 September (Matinee) Joe McElderry
Saturday 20 September (Evening) Tim Healy
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury Tuesday 23 September Natalie Cassidy
Wednesday 24 September Lou Sanders
Thursday 25 September (Matinee) Vic Reeves
Thursday 25 September (Evening) Sarah Hadland
Friday 26 September Peter Andre
The Alexandra, Birmingham Tuesday 7 October Adrian Chiles
Wednesday 8 October Lesley Joseph
Thursday 9 October Russell Kane
Friday 10 October Gary Wilmot
Saturday 11 October (Matinee) Maureen Lipman
Saturday 11 October (Evening) Toyah Willcox
Manchester Opera House Tuesday 14 October John Thomson
Wednesday 15 October Ralf Little
Thursday 16 October (Matinee) Scarlett Moffatt
Thursday 16 October (Evening) Paddy McGuinness
Friday 17 October Stan Boardman
Saturday 18 October (Matinee) Les Dennis
Saturday 18 October (Evening) Antony Cotton
New Victoria Theatre, Woking Tuesday 21 October Bobby Davro
Wednesday 22 October Jimmy Tarbuck
Thursday 23 October Tony Blackburn
Friday 24 October Rick Astley
Saturday 25 October (Matinee) Ranj Singh
Saturday 26 October (Evening) Basil Brush
New Theatre, Hull Tuesday 28 October Tommy Cannon
Wednesday 29 October Paul Chuckle
Thursday 30 October (Matinee)Kofi Smiles
Thursday 30 October (Evening) Christopher Dean
Friday 31 October John Shuttleworth
Saturday 1 November (Matinee) Mark Addy
Saturday 1 November (Evening) Peter Levy
New Theatre, Oxford Tuesday 4 November Will Young
Wednesday 5 November Basil Brush
Thursday 6 November Kevin Bishop
Friday 7 November Jonathan Ross
Saturday 8 November (Matinee) Dom Joly
Saturday 8 November (Evening) Katherine Parkinson
Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent Tuesday 11 November Clinton Baptiste
Wednesday 12 November Phil Daniels
Thursday 13 November Keith Brymer Jones
Friday 14 November Nick Hancock
Saturday 15 November (Matinee) Jack Carroll
Saturday 15 November (Evening) Mawaan Rizwan
Liverpool Empire Theatre Tuesday 18 November Claire Sweeney
Wednesday 19 November Sian Gibson
Thursday 20 November Crissy Rock
Friday 21 November Johnny Vegas
Saturday 22 November (Matinee) Michael Starke
Saturday 22 November (Evening) Mick Miller
Edinburgh Playhouse Tuesday 25 November Jonathan Watson
Wednesday 26 November Susan Calman
Thursday 27 November Frankie Boyle
Friday 28 November Peter Mullan
Saturday 29 November (Matinee) John MacKay
Saturday 29 November (Evening) Sanjeev Kohli
The Alexandra, Birmingham Tuesday 2 December Sally Lindsay
Wednesday 3 December Alistair McGowan
Thursday 4 December (Matinee) Nick Hancock
Thursday 4 December (Evening) Sian Gibson
Friday 5 December Faye Tozer
Saturday 6 December (Matinee) Joe Lycett
Saturday 6 December (Evening) Peter Davison
Final Shows (2026)
Eventim Apollo, London (Hammersmith)Friday 2 January Sanjeev Bhaskar
Saturday 3 January (Matinee) Bill Bailey
Saturday 3 January (Evening) Joe Marler
Sunday 4 January (Matinee) Stephen Mulhern
Monday 5 January Rob Brydon
Tuesday 6 January Bernie Clifton

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryResult
2025 Laurence Olivier Awards [8] Best Entertainment or Comedy Play Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Inside No. 9 on Stage – STAGE/FRIGHT UK Tour 2025". Inside No. 9 on Stage. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  2. ↑ "Inside No 9 stage adaptation to run in the West End with Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith". 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  3. ↑ Lukowski, Andrzej (2024-05-03). "Inside No. 9 is coming to the West End with new story 'Stage/Fright'". Time Out London. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  4. ↑ Wiegand, Chris (2024-05-03). "Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith announce stage version of Inside No 9". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  5. ↑ "Inside No 9 stage show with Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith to tour the UK". 2025-04-01. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
  6. ↑ "Final shows announced for INSIDE NO.9 STAGE/FRIGHT". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  7. ↑ Staff Writer (2025-01-16). "Inside No.9 Stage Fright full cast announced". Theatre Weekly. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  8. ↑ Rook, Olivia (2025-03-04). "2025 Olivier Awards nominations announced, with 'Fiddler on the Roof' leading". London Theatre. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
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