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Upstart Crow
  • Upstart Crow

  • 2hours 20mins (inc. interval)
  • Apollo Theatre
  • 4.8/5 based on 27 reviews

Upstart Crow photos

Upstart Crow Upstart Crow Upstart Crow
  • Recommended for
  • Theatregoers (100%)
  • Couples (89%)
  • Booking details
  • Booking until: Saturday, 3 December 2022
  • Running time: 2hours 20mins (inc. interval)
  • Age restrictions

Upstart Crow description

About Upstart Crow

Ben Elton is one of Britain's best-loved funny people, a talented writer and playwright, an outstanding comedian and a human a powerhouse of fun. He is bringing his awesomely silly, critically acclaimed BBC sitcom, Upstart Crow, to the West End stage, a fresh new play starring the hapless William Shakespeare and his family. Like the TV series the show re-imagines the life of The Bard, a life constantly full of muddle and confusion, crazy mistakes, and a chronic lack of creative inspiration.

What's the story of Upstart Crow?

Ben Elton has set this play in 1605. Shakespeare is, as usual, struggling to come up with a decent plot for his next play. But the same old family problems and nonsenses get in his way. A pair of identical cross-dressing twins causes havoc, there's an escaped dancing bear called Mrs Whiskers, brought home by Kate, and The Bard's last two plays have fallen horribly flat, completely failing to impress the new king. It's time for Will to stand up and shape up. Will he overcome this latest set of maddening, hilarious hurdles?

Who is starring in Upstart Crow?

What a cool cast. The brilliant comic, actor and TV presenter David Mitchell reprises his TV role to delight audiences with his wonderfully dry wit and dazzling delivery. This is his West End theatre debut. Gemma Whelan plays Kate, Will's clever housekeeper, just as she does on TV. There's Helen Monks, who thrilled us in Raised by Wolves, Rob Rouse from Grownups and Steve Speirs of Stella fame. Plus a brand new character, Dr. John Hall, played by Friday Night Dinner's Mark Heap.

Who is on the Upstart Crow creative team?

The production is directed by the Olivier award-winner Sean Foley. Premier Creative's in-house digital team designed and developed the website for the theatre production. Lizzie Gee is the choreographer. Lighting comes from Tim Mitchell, set design from Alice Power, and the sound design comes from Andy Graham.

What are people saying about Upstart Crow?

  • What's On Stage - “It's hard to resist the delirious silliness of Ben Elton's The Upstart Crow – an imagined life of Shakespeare that reconfigures the genius of British theatre as a harassed commuter from Stratford-upon-Avon.”
  • The Guardian - “Authentically Shakespearean right down to the puffling pants.”
  • The Telegraph - “Joyously silly.”

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Playing at Apollo Theatre (venue info)

31 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7ES GB

Apollo Theatre Directions

Performance Times for Upstart Crow

Mon - 19:30
Tue - 19:30
Wed 14:30 19:30
Thu - 19:30
Fri - 19:30
Sat 14:30 19:30
Sun - -

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