Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 5, 2026

Magic Goes Wrong

Magic Goes Wrong is a comedy play by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields and Penn & Teller. It follows the series of Mischief's Goes Wrong series of plays following The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong.

Last revised
Jul 5, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
597 w
Citations
16
Source
Magic Goes Wrong
Original languageEnglish
Written byHenry Lewis,
Jonathan Sayer
Henry Shields
Penn Jillette
Teller
GenreComedy
Magic
Premiere
Date6 August 2019
PlaceThe Lowry, Salford
Official website

Magic Goes Wrong is a comedy play by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields (of Mischief Theatre Company) and Penn & Teller. It follows the series of Mischief's Goes Wrong series of plays following The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong.

Production history

The play opened in the Quays Theatre at The Lowry, Salford from 6 to 11 August 2019, prior to its opening in London's West End at the Vaudeville Theatre from 14 December 2019.123 It is notable for employing a far greater level of black comedy than previous instalments in the Goes Wrong series, including many on-stage gory demises for the guest characters. Although, slightly paradoxically, the ending is considerably more upbeat and sentimental than the group's other productions.

The play was the third Mischief production running simultaneously in the West End alongside the long-running productions of The Play That Goes Wrong and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (until its closure in March 2020), and the fourth in London while Peter Pan Goes Wrong played the Christmas 2019 season at the Alexandra Palace.

In March 2020, the play stopped performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The play resumed its London run on 21 October 2021 at a new venue, the Apollo Theatre. A UK tour commenced at the Curve, Leicester from 20 July 2021.

A spin-off centered on the character of the Mind Mangler, titled Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle, opened in the West End at the Apollo Theatre on 14 March 2024.4

Cast and characters

Characters London (2019)5 UK tour (2021) London (2021)6
Spitzmaus Bryony Corrigan Jocelyn Prah
Eugenia Roxy Faridany Valerie Cutko Genevieve Nicole
The Blade Dave Hearn Kiefer Moriarty Kazeem Tosin Amore
Mind Mangler Henry Lewis Rory Fairbairn Henry Lewis
Mickey Jonathan Sayer Daniel Anthony Sydney K Smith
Sophisticato Henry Shields Sam Hill Shane David-Joseph
Bär Nancy Zamit Chloe Tannenbaum
Madam Escapade Jane Milligan
Peg Louise Beresford
Martina Nancy Zamit
Mel Scott Hunter
Understudies Natasha Culley Ishbel Cumming Steph De Whalley
Lauren Ingram Ricky Oakley Christian James
Laurence Pears CJ Field Tom Wainwright
Sydney K Smith Jay Olpin
Liv Spencer

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2020 Laurence Olivier Awards Best Entertainment or Comedy Play Nominated
2022 WhatsOnStage Awards78 Best New Play Shortlisted
2022 WhatsOnStage Awards78 Best West End Show Shortlisted
2022 WhatsOnStage Awards78 Best Performer in a Male Identifying Role in a Play Henry Lewis Shortlisted
2022 WhatsOnStage Awards78 Best Supporting Performer in a Male Identifying Role in a Play Jonathan Sayer Shortlisted
2022 WhatsOnStage Awards78 Best Supporting Performer in a Female Identifying Role in a Play Nancy Zamit Shortlisted
References

References

  1. "Penn and Teller create Magic Goes Wrong with Mischief Theatre | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
  2. correspondent, Mark Brown Arts (2019-03-07). "Mischief Theatre's next 'Goes Wrong' comedy will be magic show". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-08-28. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. Longman, Will (2020-01-20). "Mischief Theatre's Magic Goes Wrong extends West End run". London Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  4. Wood, Alex. "Mind Mangler West End premiere dates and details confirmed". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  5. BWW News Desk. "Full Casting Announced For Mischief Theatre's MAGIC GOES WRONG at The Vaudeville Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
  6. Wood, Alex (22 September 2021). "Magic Goes Wrong in the West End full casting announced". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  7. Wood, Alex (9 December 2021). "Nominees for 22nd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards announced". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  8. Hemley, Matthew (27 February 2022). "WhatsOnStage Awards 2022: Winners in full". TheStage.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2022.