The Comedy About Spies London — Adelphi Theatre The Comedy About Spies

West End Comedy

The Comedy About Spies Tickets

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The Story

The Comedy About Spies — London

🏆
WhatsOnStage Best New Play 2026
21
Sold-out weeks in its first West End run
8
Strictly limited weeks at the Adelphi

London. The 1960s. A rogue British agent has stolen the plans for the world’s most dangerous weapon — codenamed Project Midnight. MI6 are on the case. The CIA are on the case. The KGB are also on the case. The problem is none of them have the faintest idea what they’re doing. When CIA agent Lance Buchanan and KGB operatives Sergei and Elena converge on the Piccadilly Hotel in pursuit of the elusive file, things begin to spiral horribly, magnificently, unstoppably out of control.

“Abandon yourself to the madness. I was crying helpless tears of laughter within the first five minutes.”
The Guardian ★★★★

Add a clueless young couple who really should not be there, a hapless actor convinced he’s about to be cast as the next James Bond, and enough double agents to confuse even the sharpest operative — and you have a comedy that is, to quote the Daily Mail, “bigger, better and more brilliantly bungling than ever.”

From Mischief Theatre — the company behind The Play That Goes Wrong (now the longest-running comedy in West End history), Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery — this is their most acclaimed production yet. Written by original Mischief members Henry Lewis and Henry Shields, directed by Matt DiCarlo, and starring the original company, The Comedy About Spies sold out its entire 21-week debut run at the Noël Coward Theatre in 2025, won Best New Play at the WhatsOnStage Awards (announced live from the stage of the London Palladium) and has been nominated for the Olivier Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play. It was also filmed for a live cinema release. Now it returns to the West End for eight weeks only — this time at the magnificent Art Deco Adelphi Theatre on the Strand.

Press Reviews

“Delightfully silly. I was crying helpless tears of laughter within the first five minutes. The whole thing is breathlessly funny.”
The Guardian ★★★★
“Abandon yourself to the madness. Mischief Theatre’s finest hour — the cascade of gags is relentless and the ensemble playing is exquisite.”
The Times ★★★★
“Bigger, better and more brilliantly bungling than ever. A masterclass in physical comedy and timing from a company at the very top of their game.”
Daily Mail ★★★★★
“Breathlessly funny. Mischief have done it again — every scene is piled higher with more chaos than the last, and somehow it keeps getting funnier.”
Time Out ★★★★

What to Expect

WhatsOnStage Best New Play winner
From the makers of The Play That Goes Wrong
Sold-out 21-week debut run in 2025
Swinging 60s spy farce chaos
CIA vs KGB — neither wins
Relentless physical comedy
Brilliant for groups & corporate nights
Strictly 8 weeks only — do not miss it

Tickets

Book Your Seats

Pick your date, choose your seats on the interactive map, and receive instant eTickets by email.

Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
409–412 Strand, London WC2R 0NS
Running Time
2 hrs 15 mins
Includes a 15-minute interval
Age Recommendation
Ages 10+
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult 18+
Dates
1 Aug — 26 Sep 2026
Strictly limited 8-week season
Cancellation Policy
Full refunds
For event cancellations
Good to Know
Strobe & haze
Strobe lighting, stage smoke & simulated explosion
On Arrival
Display eTickets on your phone
Or present a printed ticket at the box office
When to Arrive
30 minutes before curtain
Latecomers may not be admitted until a suitable break

Gallery

The Comedy About Spies Photos

The cast on the moonlit bridge scene in The Comedy About Spies at the Boulevard Theatre, London
The bridge — moonlight standoff
The company emerging through doors in smoke and spotlights in The Comedy About Spies at the Boulevard Theatre, London
The company — doors & smoke
The spy pairings on stage in The Comedy About Spies at the Boulevard Theatre, London
The spy pairings
The cast in a Mexican standoff in the Art Deco hotel lobby in The Comedy About Spies at the Boulevard Theatre, London
Hotel lobby standoff
Four hotel rooms shown simultaneously with the cast in The Comedy About Spies at the Boulevard Theatre, London
Four rooms — simultaneous action
The company on a London street scene with a bicycle in The Comedy About Spies at the Boulevard Theatre, London
The London street chase
Production photos by Matt Crockett & Mark Senior

Production

The Comedy About Spies Cast & Creatives

Lance Buchanan
Dave Hearn
Rosemary Wilson
Adele James
Sergei Ivanov
Chris Leask
Douglas Woodbead
Henry Lewis
Elena Popov
Charlie Russell
Bernard Wright
Henry Shields
Albert Tipton
Greg Tannahill
Janet Buchanan
Nancy Zamit
Ensemble / Understudy
Macadie Amoroso
Ensemble / Understudy
Adam Byron
Ensemble / Understudy
Matt Cavendish
Ensemble / Understudy
Allie Dart
Ensemble / Understudy
Niall Ransome
Ensemble / Understudy
Ashley Tucker
Understudy
Colm Gleeson

Venue

Getting to the Adelphi Theatre

Adelphi Theatre  ·  409–412 Strand, London WC2R 0NS

CC
Charing Cross
Bakerloo & Northern lines. Take the Strand exit, cross the road, turn right — the Adelphi is on your left after a few minutes.
4 min
EM
Embankment
Bakerloo, District & Circle lines. Take the City exit, head up Villiers Street and turn left onto the Strand — the Adelphi is on your right.
5 min
CG
Covent Garden
Piccadilly line. Walk south down James Street, then left along the Strand to the Adelphi.
8 min
CC
Charing Cross
Southeastern services. Exit onto the Strand, turn right — the Adelphi is a few minutes along on your left.
4 min
EL
Temple / Blackfriars
Walk west along the Strand from Temple station (District & Circle) — the Adelphi is on your right after about 8 minutes.
8 min
VX
London Victoria
Take the tube to Charing Cross (Bakerloo line, one stop from Waterloo). Exit onto the Strand and turn right.
18 min
Bus
The Strand (direct)
Routes 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 87, 91, 139, 176 stop directly on the Strand outside or very close to the Adelphi Theatre.
Door
Bus
Trafalgar Square
Routes 3, 12, 24, 29, 53, 88, 159, 453 — alight at Trafalgar Square and walk east along the Strand.
4 min
N
Night buses
N9, N11, N13, N15, N21, N47, N87, N91, N176 serve the Strand and Trafalgar Square through the night.
24hr
Congestion Charge Zone
The Adelphi is within the CCZ. Charge applies Mon–Fri 7am–6pm, Sat–Sun 12pm–6pm. Check TfL for current rates.
Q-Park Chinatown  · 8 min walk
20 Newport Place, WC2H 7PR. Open 24hrs. The Adelphi participates in the Q-Park Theatreland scheme.
50% off — validate your ticket at the theatre box office
NCP Trafalgar Square  · 5 min walk
Spring Gardens, SW1A 2TS. Open 24hrs. Walk east along the Strand to the Adelphi.