Starring Steve Pemberton & Reece Shearsmith

Wyndham’s Theatre, West End until April 5th, 2025

Following the final TV outing for the greatest anthology series ever to grace British TV, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith bring their unique brand of twisty comedy and horror to the West End stage.

There are three reasons why my attempt to review Inside No. 9 – Stage/Fright could well be considered a fruitless task.

Firstly – full disclosure – I am such a ridiculous fan-boy (okay… ‘fan-old-git’) when it comes to Pemberton and Shearsmith, that even on a below par day I know I’m unlikely to bring my full critical faculties to bear. No, they don’t always hit their target, but even when they miss, it’s always worth paying attention. Even their disappointments aren’t disappointing – and this isn’t one of those. So, no, I can’t claim to be at my most objective.

Secondly, given that one of Inside No. 9’s key USPs is its twisty story telling where nothing is ever what it seems, the show’s creators have asked that anyone seeing the show will keep its many surprises to themselves. Given that the whole thing – running a comfortable two hours and twenty minutes (including the interval) – is a succession of twists, of plays within plays, where the audience is never quite sure which reality we’re in, there’s not a lot I can say about the plot such as it is.

However, I think it’s okay to relate that there are plenty of familiar No. 9 elements. The classic episode Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room plays a major part in proceedings, and there are references to Sardines and A Quiet Night In and others along the way; however this is far more than a simple translation from screen to stage. The way things are assembled and reassembled – with completely new material as well – keeps the happy No. 9 fan guessing.

Caveats? While there are definitely moments of wonderful, twisty No. 9 genius, especially in the second act, a few of the interim ideas don’t quite land, and I found myself wishing the production had spent just a tad more cash to make sure that all the stage FX worked to perfection. Audiences have become used to flawless stage illusion in recent years, so it grates slightly when you can see too many of the joins. But, then again, perhaps the rough and ready theatricality is part of the show’s charm – reminding us that we definitely aren’t in front of our tellies now – and like I say, I’m such a shameless fan, I can’t pretend it detracted from my enjoyment.

Oh, and the third reason? The run to April 5th 2025 is ostensibly sold out, so nothing I or any other reviewer says will make the blindest bit of difference. But if you don’t have a ticket, keep an eye on the website because returns pop up quite frequently. If you want a guaranteed fun night in the theatre, then even with my few caveats, you should snap one up.

Verdict: Inside No. 9 – Stage/Fright is a fun celebration of a great show, and it’s great to see it in the (dripping) flesh. 8/10

Martin Jameson

www.ninjamarmoset.com