The Comedy About Spies takes its West End farce on a first UK tour

A West End hit from the team behind The Play That Goes Wrong is heading out on its first UK tour. The Comedy About Spies will bring its 1960s tale of rival agents, mistaken identities and bungled missions to The Lowry in Salford from 23 to 26 June 2027. Further casting details are still to come.

Key takeaways

• The Comedy About Spies plays The Lowry, Salford, from 23 to 26 June 2027.

• It is the first UK tour for the Mischief Theatre comedy, which has had two sold-out London seasons.

• The play won the 2026 WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play.

• General ticket sales for the Lowry dates are due to begin on Friday 6 November.

The announcement brings a fast-moving comedy built around espionage and farce to audiences beyond London. For comedy fans in the capital, it is also a reminder that live laughs come in many forms, from large-scale theatre productions to intimate stand-up nights.

A spy caper set in 1960s London

The story starts when a rogue British agent steals plans for a secret weapon. At the Piccadilly Hotel, CIA and KGB operatives close in, while a young couple, an aspiring actor and a collection of double agents become caught up in the mission.

The resulting plot trades in mistaken identities, miscommunication and failed schemes. The show is written by Mischief Theatre’s Henry Lewis and Henry Shields, whose work includes the long-running The Play That Goes Wrong.

From sold-out London seasons to Salford

The Comedy About Spies opened at London’s Noël Coward Theatre in April 2025 and ran until September. It returned for an eight-week engagement at the Adelphi Theatre in August 2026, following two sold-out London seasons, and received the 2026 WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play.

Matt DiCarlo directs the production. Its creative team includes set designer David Farley, costume designer Deborah Andrews and lighting designer Johanna Town. Casting for the tour has not yet been announced. Kenny Wax and Stage Presence present the show in association with Jo Danvers.

Live comedy in London

The tour is a theatrical farce, but London audiences looking for live comedy closer to home can also find professional stand-up in an intimate setting. Comedy in Your Eye hosts weekly shows on Tuesdays and Thursdays at The Camden Eye in Camden Town, with a top-secret lineup that keeps each night a fresh discovery.

The club offers a welcoming, grassroots alternative for a night out, while this new tour gives Mischief fans outside the capital a chance to catch the company’s latest comic escapade. Lowry tickets are scheduled to go on general sale on Friday 6 November.

• The Comedy About Spies coming to The Lowry in Salford, Warrington Guardian.