PLAYFUL PRODUCTIONS
ERIC KUHN, KARL SYDOW, SAYERS AND SAYERS PRODUCTIONS AND SUE VERTUE/HARTSWOOD FILMS
PRESENT THE THE CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE PRODUCTION OF
THE UNFRIEND
BY STEVEN MOFFAT
DIRECTED BY MARK GATISS
The Unfriend
noun.
A person, often met on holiday, who doesn’t understand that “let’s keep in touch” means “goodbye.” Sometimes a murderer.
-BAFTA WINNER LEE MACK WILL LEAD THE CAST AS HAPLESS PETER IN STEVEN MOFFAT’S HIT COMEDY THE UNFRIEND DIRECTED BY MARK GATISS
–THE UNFRIEND WILL OPEN AT WYNDHAM’S THEATRE FROM 16 DECEMBER FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON UNTIL 9 MARCH 2024, WITH A PRESS NIGHT ON 9 JANUARY 2024
-LEE MACK IS JOINED BY SARAH ALEXANDER AS DEBBIE, NICK SAMPSON AS THE NEIGHBOUR
-THEATRICAL GREAT FRANCES BARBER WILL REPRISE HER PERFORMANCE AS THE FORCE OF NATURE ELSA JEAN KRAKOWSKI
-THE PRODUCTION BROKE BOX OFFICE RECORDS AT THE CRITERION THEATRE EARLIER THIS YEAR
-TICKETS ARE ON SALE AT 12 NOON ON THURSDAY 13 JULY FROM WWW.THEUNFRIEND.COM
Producers Playful Productions are delighted to announce that Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ record breaking collaboration The Unfriend will be making its return to the West End this year. The show will open in previews at Wyndhams’ Theatre on 16 December and will run until 9 March 2024.
New to the show, award-winning comedian and actor Lee Mack (Would I Lie To You, Not Going Out, Inside No. 9) will play the role of Peter, whilst Sarah Alexander (Jonathan Creek, Green Wing, Smack The Pony and Coupling) will play Peter’s wife Debbie and Nick Sampson (Witness for the Prosecution, Anthony and Cleopatra) will play The Neighbour. Frances Barber (Silk and Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool) returns to play the role of everyone’s favourite serial killer Elsa Jean Krakowski.
Lee Mack said: “I’m delighted to be joining The Unfriend with the brilliant Sarah Alexander and the wonderful Frances Barber, and of course all the other amazing cast. It’s such a fantastically written play by Steven Moffat that I might even go the whole hog and learn the words.”
While on holiday Peter and Debbie befriend Elsa: a lusty, Trump-loving widow from Denver, USA. She’s less than woke but kind of wonderful, so they agree to stay in touch – because no one ever really does, do they?
When Elsa invites herself to stay with the family a few months later, they decide to look her up online. But it’s too late: on learning the truth about Elsa Jean Krakowski, the deadly danger is already on a flight to London! What began as a casual holiday friendship is suddenly a threat to all their lives.
Peter and Debbie now face the ultimate challenge of the modern world – how do you protect all that you love from mortal peril without seeming a bit impolite?
Because guess who’s coming… to MURDER.
Director, Mark Gatiss, said; “You can’t keep a good serial killer down! I’m absolutely delighted that Elsa Jean Krakowski has found a home at the beautiful Wyndham’s theatre and very much look forward to bringing Steven’s hilarious play back to the West End”.
Writer, Steven Moffat said: “It’s a real thrill to welcome a couple of comedy legends on board The Unfriend, for our new run at the Wyndhams Theatre. Lee Mack is one of the funniest men in the country and someone I’ve been wanting to work with for years. And Sarah Alexander is not just brilliant and hilarious, she’s an old friend from our days together on Coupling. Can’t wait to get started all over again.”
Steven Moffat is a six-time BAFTA award-winning writer, whose hit television series include Doctor Who, Sherlock and Dracula – the latter two co-written with the actor and writer Mark Gatiss, who directs this production. Mark Gatiss is a member of the sketch comedy team The League of Gentlemen. Gatiss’ recent directing credits include The Mezzotint and The Amazing Mr Blunden for Sky Max, in which he also starred. He also recently adapted A Christmas Carol at Nottingham Playhouse and Alexandra Palace. Most recently he won huge acclaim for his role as John Gielgud in The Motive and the Cue at the National Theatre.
The Unfriend is designed by Robert Jones, with lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Ella Wahlström, video design by Andrzej Goulding and casting by Charlotte Sutton CDG. The Unfriend by Steven Moffat was originally developed by Playful Productions.