As the show begins its impressive ninth and final run, there’s a whole new way to go Inside No.9.
The acclaimed Inside No. 9 starts its final series tonight on BBC Two, but it’s not the last of the show.
Those creative devils Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith are bringing the show to the West End next year.
Stage/Fright will blend original material with familiar characters from the show’s television incarnation. The production’s director is Simon Evans.
Speaking to WhatsOnStage, the pair said:
“We’ve been asked about doing a live show ever since the series first started on the BBC, probably because each episode is like a mini-play. There are small casts and single locations, and we were definitely inspired by our work in theatre when writing the stories for TV.
“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.”
With Stage/Fright the first production through the pair’s new IN9 Theatre Company, there’s the potential for further shows. Additionally, Inside No. 9 is famous for its high-profile guests and there’s no reason the stage version couldn’t retain this aspect. It certainly works for shows like Whodunnit, and we can’t imagine they’d struggle for famous faces.
However, Pemberton and Shearsmith are keen to preserve the secrets of Stage/Fright:
“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 Stage/Fright will run for 12 weeks at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre from January 18th 2024.
Tickets go on sale tonight, Wednesday 8th May at 7pm.
In the meantime, Series 9 begins at 9pm tonight on BBC Two and all the show’s previous episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.