The Comedy About Spies
By (Author) Henry Lewis
By (author) Henry Shields
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Methuen Drama
14th April 2025
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Literary studies: plays and playwrights
Modern and contemporary plays (c 1900 onwards)
Comedic plays
Paperback
128
Width 128mm, Height 198mm, Spine 14mm
146g
LAUGHTER IS THEIR ONLY WEAPON
Brace yourself for hilarious mayhem and a not-so-secret mission with Mischiefs newest action-packed adventure The Comedy About Spies.
When a rogue British agent pilfers plans for a top-secret weapon, CIA and KGB spies converge on Londons Piccadilly Hotel in pursuit of the elusive file. Add to the mix a clueless young couple, a hapless actor angling for the role of James Bond, and enough double agents to confuse even the sharpest operative, and youve got a mission thats hilariously out of control.
Mischief, the multi award-winning company behind The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, bring an uproarious 1960s spy escapade, bursting with bungled missions, tangled identities, and miscommunication thats anything but covert.
This edition was published to coincide with the West End premiere in April 2025.
Henry Shields is an award-winning playwright, best known for his work with Mischief. Co-writer of The Comedy About Spies, he looks forward to returning to the stage in one of the leading roles in 2025. He has been nominated for three Olivier Awards for Best New Comedy, winning in 2015 for The Play That Goes Wrong. Stage Credits Include: The Play That Goes Wrong (West End & Broadway); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (West End & Broadway); The Comedy About a Bank Robbery; Groan Ups; Magic Goes Wrong; Light! Camera! Improvise and Mischief Movie Night.
Screen Credits Include: Holby City (BBC); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (BBC); A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (BBC); both series of The Goes Wrong Show (which he co-wrote) and Keep It In The Family (ITV).
Henry Lewis is an Olivier Award and Drama Desk Award winning writer, actor, director and producer and is the Artistic Director of Mischief. Henrys work has been produced in over 50 countries worldwide. Broadway Theatre Credits include: The Play That Goes Wrong (Lyceum); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Ethel Barrymore). West End Credits Include: Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle (Prince of Wales/Garrick); Magic Goes Wrong (Apollo/Vaudeville); Groan Ups (Vaudeville); Mischief Movie Night (Vaudeville/Arts); The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (Criterion); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Apollo); The Play that Goes Wrong (Duchess & UK/International Tour); Austentatious (Arts).
Off West End/Off Broadway/Regional Theatre Credits Include: Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Ahmanson, Los Angeles); Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle (Off Broadway/UK Tour); Good Luck, Studio (UK Tour as director); Mercury Fur (Trafalgar Studios); The Play That Goes Wrong (UK/International Tour); Superior Donuts (Southwark Playhouse as producer); Beasts & Beauties (Hampstead); Showstopper! The Improvised Musical (various). Live Streamed: Mischief Movie Night-In (Immersive LDN/Riverside Studios).
Screen Credits Include: The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (Apple+); Riddiculous (ITV); The Valiant Quest of Prince Ivandoe (Cartoon Network); The Goes Wrong Show (BBC); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (BBC); A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (BBC); Royal Variety Performance 2015 & 2019 (ITV); We are Most Amused and Amazed: Prince Charles 70th Birthday Celebration (ITV); Children in Need 2020 (BBC) and Comic Relief 2022 (BBC).
Henrys first book Mystery Agency: The Museum Heist is available now.