Noises Off

Michael Frayn wrote Noises Off in 1982, and it has been referred to by many critics as the funniest farce ever written.  It follows the antics of a 2nd rate theatre company putting on a play called “Nothing On”, which is a saucy English farce full of slapstick comedy involving slamming doors, people falling over themselves, pants falling around ankles and damned plates of sardines.

In the first Act we follow the cast through the final dress rehearsal and see the company is struggling to get a drastically under-rehearsed show ready.  Act Two, it’s one month later and we see the first act of “Nothing On” being performed, but this time from backstage where the show is barely holding together because of deteriorating relationships and petty bickering.  The third Act sees the show at the end of its twelve week touring run, and we watch the action from the front again.  By now the show has declined into a pathetic state where cues are missed, lines are lost, sets fail and still, there’s those damned sardines!

Noises Off is one of the most acclaimed comedies in the past 25 years, having been nominated for and won multiple Evening Standard, Olivier, Drama Desk & Tony awards in both its first run and revival seasons.  It’s a must see show that will leave you hurting from laughter, and if you have ever been involved in theatre you will no doubt find familiarity in the on-stage/backstage antics.