Review: INSIDE NO. 9 STAGE/FRIGHT at Wyndhams Theatre

Date: 17th March 2025 

Seat: G14 (Royal Circle)

Stars: 5

When the lights go down on Inside No. 9: Stage/Fright, one thing is certain: you have absolutely no idea what’s coming next. But then again, that’s always been the thrill of Inside No. 9, hasn’t it? Nine seasons in, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith have mastered the art of pulling the rug out from under us. Now, they’ve taken their mind-bending anthology off the telly and onto the stage. and the result is a twisted, darkly hilarious, and utterly unsettling night of theatre that will leave you questioning everything – including whether the audience is really just watching.

This is Inside No. 9, so of course, it’s not just a play. That would be far too simple. Instead, Stage/Fright toys with theatrical conventions like a cat batting around a very, very doomed mouse.

It all begins with a seemingly straightforward setup: two actors, a rehearsal, and an audience watching it all unfold. But almost immediately, the layers start peeling away faster than Pemberton can don a wig, and suddenly, the script is twisting in on itself. The fourth wall isn’t just broken; it’s obliterated. Reality buckles, characters shift, and before you know it, you’re spiraling into that delicious Inside No. 9 vortex of “Is this horror? Comedy? A psychological experiment? All of the above?” Yes.

If you’re an Inside No. 9 fan, you’re in for a treat. If you love theatre, you’re in for an even bigger one. This isn’t just a play about a play – it’s a love letter (or, more accurately, a ransom note) to the art form itself.

There are nods to the backstage chaos of Noises Off, the creeping dread of Victorian ghost stories, and that signature Inside No. 9 tension where you know something’s coming… but you don’t know what or when. It delights in theatre’s absurdities while celebrating them, littering the script with inside jokes, clever misdirections, and just enough genuine terror to keep you gripping your armrests.

One of the greatest joys of Inside No. 9 has always been watching Pemberton and Shearsmith morph into grotesques, weirdos, and wrong’uns. Stage/Fright gives them the chance to do it live, and it’s a thrill to witness.

Pemberton, with his impeccable comic timing and the ability to turn a single raised eyebrow into an entire monologue, is at his absolute best. Shearsmith, meanwhile, switches between affable and utterly unnerving so seamlessly that you find yourself laughing one moment and holding your breath the next. Their chemistry crackles, and their sheer delight in messing with the audience is palpable. They know you’re watching. They know you think you’re clever. They’re five steps ahead.

Is it perfect? Well, it leans heavily into references that die-hard fans will devour, but casual theatregoers might feel slightly out of the loop, and for some that might be an issue… but the majority of the audience know every episode inside out, so it’s more fun than not. Then again, Inside No. 9 has never been about hand-holding – it’s about letting you stumble through the dark, only to realise the trap was set for you all along.

Stage/Fright is exactly what you’d expect from Pemberton and Shearsmith—smart, sinister, and packed with more twists than you can count. But experiencing it live adds a whole new level of thrill. It’s theatre that laughs in the face of convention, delights in the macabre, and keeps you guessing until the final blackout.

If you love Inside No. 9, it’s a must-see. If you love theatre that plays with structure (and plays with you), it’s a must-see. If you prefer your theatre predictable, straightforward, and free from unexpected existential dread… maybe book something safer.

Inside No. 9: Stage/Fright is running at Wyndham’s Theatre until 5th April and is currently sold out, but returns are available here: https://www.wyndhamstheatre.co.uk/whats-on/inside-no-9-stage-fright