CHRISTMAS CAROL GOES WRONG: When Dickens Meets Mischief And Mayhem
You might already be familiar with Mischief Comedy if you’ve ever seen THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG or PETER PAN GOES WRONG. Their irreverent brand of theatre jettisons the usual holiday sentiment for something altogether more raucous. And that formula works: audiences worldwide have revelled in the company’s knack for blending expert timing, slapstick, and heartfelt comedic chaos. The comedic potential in Dickens’ classic is immediately apparent to anyone who’s watched a few “straight” versions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The story might be serious at heart—full of life lessons and repentant misers—but its myriad costumes, sets, and supernatural twists lend themselves brilliantly to onstage disasters. In other words, it’s a Mischief playground.
For data-lovers among us, let’s note that the original THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG sold out its earliest runs and eventually transferred to the West End, where it became a smash hit. It even made its way across the pond, scoring a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design on Broadway. Meanwhile, PETER PAN GOES WRONG was adapted as a BBC One special, proving that Mischief’s comedic formula resonates just as much through a camera lens as in a live theatre. Each production has earned critical acclaim and built an ever-growing legion of fans. So when the same comedic geniuses decide to put Dickens through their comedic wringer, you can bet tickets will be in high demand.
The Cornley Amateur Drama Society Strikes Again
In true Mischief style, CHRISTMAS CAROL GOES WRONG features the fictitious Cornley Amateur Drama Society—a troupe whose determination is outweighed only by their capacity for catastrophe. They’re trying to stage Charles Dickens’ beloved yuletide tale, but everything that can go wrong does: missing props, disputes over casting, creative misunderstandings, and an ongoing war with time itself. Audiences who’ve encountered this hapless bunch in previous “Goes Wrong” productions already know to expect hilarious calamity from the first curtain up to the final bow.
Interestingly, there was a televised iteration of this concept back in 2017, featuring David Suchet, which gave fans a taste of how Dickens’ ghosts might take to comedic meddling. However, a new live stage production promises fresh jokes, bigger stunts, and the exhilarating sense that anything could happen—because, in a Mischief show, it usually does.
The Grand Tour and West End Dates
CHRISTMAS CAROL GOES WRONG commences its journey at the Lowry in Salford from 2 November 2025. From there, it meanders across the UK, stopping at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre, the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, and Theatre Royal Bath. After that, the production gets its prime-time West End moment at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, playing from 6 December 2025 to 25 January 2026. If you fancy being among the first to experience the full suite of mishaps, the gala performance is set for Sunday 14 December—a date that’s sure to be filled with glitz, glamour, and possibly a toppling Christmas tree or two.
But the adventure doesn’t end there. Into early 2026, the show embarks on further escapades, calling at Nottingham Theatre Royal, the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury, the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, the King’s Theatre in Glasgow, and the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, finally wrapping up in March. So no matter where you find yourself in the country over the festive period (or beyond), there’s a good chance that the Dickensian chaos will be within striking distance.
Original Mischief Talent At The Helm
The three comedic minds behind this latest production are Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields—the same trio that penned THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG. Their unique brand of humour has become a theatrical phenomenon, leading them to produce one hilariously doomed show after another. This time around, they’re delving into the ghosts and gloom of Dickens, but if their track record is anything to go by, they’ll make sure there’s more calamity than coal in Ebenezer Scrooge’s stocking.
Jonathan Sayer has already shared his enthusiasm: “We can’t wait to bring a new ‘Goes Wrong’ title to the stage. It’s been tremendous fun revisiting the Cornley characters and we are looking forward to sharing the show with audiences over the festive period.” That nod to the returning ensemble is especially promising: audiences who fell in love with the Cornley crowd’s comedic blunders in earlier shows will be delighted to see them reprise their roles. The interplay of these characters—like the over-confident director, the perpetually apologetic stagehand, or the star performer who ironically can’t find the stage—creates a unique dynamic that sets Mischief’s productions apart from other comedic takes on classic tales.
How Chaos Becomes Precision
You might be wondering: how does one sustain a two-hour production of pure disaster without the chaos feeling haphazard or repetitive? The secret is meticulous planning. Each broken prop, mistimed cue, and dramatic tumble demands as much timing and skill as any conventional theatre piece—arguably more so. Cast members need to know precisely how and when to fail, whether it’s a bit of collapsing scenery or a comedic costume change gone awry.
In that sense, Mischief has carved out a new theatrical niche: choreographed anarchy. True, theatre has always had comedic mishaps. But rarely have they been so carefully orchestrated and replayed night after night, with the same illusions of unrehearsed calamity. It’s a testament to the entire creative team’s craftsmanship that every pratfall and comedic pause is placed for maximum effect while maintaining the look of spontaneous disaster. Watching it unfold live offers a strange kind of thrill: we half-know it’s planned, but a little voice in our head wonders, “What if that bit of scenery really does hurt someone?” The “danger factor,” even if only perceived, keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.
What Makes This Dickensian Twist So Festive
Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is arguably one of the most adapted stories in the English language, with countless re-tellings gracing stage and screen since the mid-19th century. We all know the plot: the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge meets three ghosts, learns the error of his ways, and transforms into a kindly figure who embraces the spirit of Christmas. So how do you keep such a well-worn tale feeling fresh? By introducing a comedic subplot of epic proportions—particularly one featuring actors who can’t remember lines, sets that refuse to behave, and stage managers who pop up in the middle of scenes trying to salvage the chaos.
Another angle to consider is the timelessness of Dickens’ moral core. Even in the most farcical adaptation, there’s still a heart beating beneath the comedic mayhem. Audiences can laugh at the catastrophes yet still walk away feeling that warm, fuzzy glow that only a Christmas story can provide. That might be why Mischief chose this beloved classic: it’s a surefire way to remind audiences that, beneath all the rib-tickling antics, theatre remains a place for introspection and empathy—even if you have to wade through a collapsed piece of scenery to find it.
So, is this a typical Dickens show? Absolutely not. It’s better described as a whimsical collision of tradition and mischief. Will you see the humble clerk Bob Cratchit? Probably, but he might not make it onto the stage without tripping over a misplaced Christmas pudding. Will Tiny Tim deliver his iconic line “God bless us, every one?” Perhaps, but don’t be surprised if he’s inadvertently replaced by an oblivious stagehand half a foot taller. That’s the beauty of CHRISTMAS CAROL GOES WRONG: it celebrates everything we love about live performance—its spontaneity, its camaraderie, its ability to go off the rails—whilst taking us on a rollercoaster ride of belly laughs and holiday cheer.
In a theatre landscape that can sometimes feel oversaturated by the same old pantos and retreads of traditional Christmas fare, Mischief’s comedic approach is a breath of fresh air. If you’ve ever daydreamed about what might happen if Scrooge’s doorknocker literally fell off the door—or if his bed curtains refused to open for the Ghost of Christmas Present—this is your show. Lean in, laugh heartily, and let the merriment wash over you. Because if there’s one lesson we can take from any Dickens tale, it’s that the holiday season is best spent in the company of others—preferably those with a flair for magnificent mishaps. And when it comes to magnificent mishaps, nobody does it quite like Mischief.
