Expert Review: Why A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong Is Comedy Gold

4.7
★★★★★

Expert Rating

The Verdict

Mischief Theatre, the brilliant minds behind The Play That Goes Wrong, have done it again with this festive masterpiece. A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong transforms Dickens' beloved classic into a brilliant comedy catastrophe that will have you laughing from the first mishap to the final bow.

What Makes It Special

  • Perfect Chaos: The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society's ambitious attempt at Dickens results in spectacular, perfectly-timed disasters.
  • Physical Comedy Mastery: Brilliant slapstick, flying props, missed cues, and set pieces that collapse at just the right moment.
  • Show Within a Show: Meta-theatrical brilliance as the cast desperately tries to hold their production together while everything falls apart.
  • Festive Spirit: Manages to capture the heart of Dickens' story while turning it into the funniest show in London.

Perfect For

Comedy lovers, families with children 8+, fans of The Play That Goes Wrong, and anyone wanting Christmas entertainment that's both clever and hilarious. A perfect antidote to traditional festive fare.

Everything You Need to Know

Dickens... With Disasters

The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, undeterred by their previous theatrical catastrophes, returns with their most ambitious production yet: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Despite their best intentions, everything that can go wrong does go wrong in the most spectacular ways possible.

What to Expect

  • Scrooge's journey through Christmas past, present, and future... if the cast can manage it
  • Three ghosts who may or may not appear when they're supposed to
  • Victorian London recreated through increasingly desperate stagecraft
  • A Christmas transformation that survives against all odds
  • The true meaning of Christmas: perseverance in the face of complete theatrical chaos

The Mischief Theatre Magic

  • Flying Props: Christmas decorations, furniture, and even actors may take unexpected flight
  • Set Disasters: Victorian London has never been less stable or more hilarious
  • Character Chaos: Multiple actors playing multiple roles when others don't show up
  • Sound Effects Gone Wrong: Christmas carols and ghostly sounds with a mind of their own
  • Costume Catastrophes: Period dress that has definitely seen better days

Comedy Fact: Every disaster is meticulously planned and rehearsed. The "chaos" requires precision timing and exceptional physical comedy skills from the entire cast.

Practical Information

Show Times

  • Monday - Thursday: 7:30pm
  • Wednesday & Saturday: 2:30pm & 7:30pm
  • Sunday: 2:30pm & 6:30pm

Getting There

  • Tube: Piccadilly Circus (3 mins), Leicester Square (5 mins)
  • Bus: Multiple routes along Shaftesbury Avenue
  • Parking: NCP Brewer Street nearby

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair accessible with advance booking
  • Hearing loops available
  • Audio description performances available
  • Contact box office for specific requirements