Madcap MK comedy announcement prompts

Most theatre companies are only too happy to announce tours and casts – but when the company in question is Mischief, it’s a rather different matter.

The multi-award winning company behind The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About Spies has issued what it calls a “warning” of who will perform in Christmas Carol Goes Wrong when it comes to Milton Keynes in February.

The show brings tidings of chaos and joy as The Cornley Amateur Drama Society return and attempt to tackle the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. The Cornley crew battle miscommunication, delays to their set, actors missing in action and a growing feud over who will play the lead.

And rather than proclaim his delight at the tour’s commencement, the show’s producer, Kenny Wax, has expressed a somewhat different emotion.

He said: “It is with great trepidation that we are about to unleash this talented new cast of actors joining the ranks who are already fighting over who gets to play Scrooge, ignoring script cues and actively sabotaging the set.

"We are terrified to be presenting this show throughout the UK on tour, in the West End and internationally, in Los Angeles and Australia. It has meant that by expanding across multiple global casts, Cornley’s severe miscommunication, and delays to their set, have caused an international safety hazard.”

The cast the company says will be “crashing around the UK” is James Akka as Dennis, Adam Elliott as Chris, Matthew Howell as Robert, Jay Olpin as Max for the final 6 tour venues, Luke Pierre as Jonathan, Aein Nasseri as Trevor, Dumile Sibanda as Annie and Ashley Tucker as Sandra.

The understudies offering support are Billie Hamer, Robert Lane, Claire Lee Shenfield, Josh Patel-Foster and Jamie Sandersfield.

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong played to sell-out houses when it premiered at the Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue last year. It is written by original Mischief members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields and the production is directed by Matt DiCarlo, who also helmed the award-winning The Comedy About Spies.

The creative team joining the authors and director are set designer Libby Todd, costume designer Roberto Surace, lighting designer David Howe and sound designer and composer Alexandra Faye Braithwaite.

Mischief shows can currently be watched all over the globe with their multi award-winning smash hit The Play That Goes Wrong recently celebrating 11 years in London’s West End, as it continues to perform to sell-out audiences in New York. Following its West End premiere, Peter Pan Goes Wrong was nominated for Best New Comedy at the Olivier Awards, and in 2022 made its North American premiere in Canada. Peter Pan Goes Wrong played on Broadway in 2023 before transferring to Los Angeles. It regularly tours the UK with seasons in the West End. Other hit stage comedies include The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, which played in London for four years, and Groan Ups, both currently performing across Europe.

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong runs at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday February 2 to Saturday February 6. Visit atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes to book.