Production Images Released For The West End Return Of Playful Productions’ THE UNFRIEND By Steven Moffat And Directed By Mark Gatiss

ERIC KUHN, KARL SYDOW, SAYERS AND SAYERS PRODUCTIONS, SUE VERTUE/HARTSWOOD FILMS AND TULCHIN BARTNER
PRESENT THE THE CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE PRODUCTION OF 

THE UNFRIEND 

BY STEVEN MOFFAT
DIRECTED BY MARK GATISS

Producers Playful Productions have today released production images for the West End return of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ record breaking collaboration The Unfriend, which is now playing at the Wyndhams’ Theatre. Performances continue until 9 March 2024. Tickets are on sale now. 

The cast is led by award-winning comedian and actor Lee Mack (Would I Lie To You, Not Going Out, Inside No. 9) as Peter, Sarah Alexander (Jonathan Creek, Green Wing, Smack The Pony and Coupling) as Peter’s wife, Debbie, Frances Barber (Silk and Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool) as Elsa Jean Krakowski and Nick Sampson (Witness for the Prosecution, Anthony and Cleopatra) as The Neighbour.

They are joined by Muzz Khan (Behind The Beautiful, Ten (Stop The War)) as PC Junkin, Maddie Holliday (Afterlife, The Unfriend at the Criterion) as Rosie and Jem Matthews as Alex in his West End debut. 

Frances Barber, Jem Matthews, Sarah Alexander and Lee Mack in The Unfriend - credit Manuel Harlan

The company is completed by Christopher Jordan (Hedda Gabler at The Old Vic, The Unfriend at the Criterion) as understudy Peter/The Neighbour, Cathy Walker (Witness for the Prosecution, The Unfriend at the Criterion) as understudy Debbie/Elsa, Charlie Richards (The Play That Goes Wrong, Four Score Years And Ten) as understudy Alex/PC Junkin and Poppy Shepherd (Our Generation) as understudy Rosie.

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.

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.

The Unfriend
Wyndham’s Theatre
Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0DA
First preview 16 December 2023
Press night 9 January 2024
Final performance 9 March 2024
Monday - Saturday 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday 2.30pm
Tickets from £10

About Playful Productions
Playful Productions is one of the most eminent independent theatre producers and full-service general management companies in the West End.

Founded in 2010 by Matthew Byam Shaw, Nia Janis and Nick Salmon, our team is driven by a love for the creative process and a passion for working with the hundreds of people we collaborate with to produce great theatre.

By proudly combining artistry with business expertise, we strive to deliver the highest quality entertainment for audiences around the world.

As Producer and General Manager productions include Opening Night (Gielgud, March 2024); Dr.Strangelove (West End, Autumn 2024); The Unfriend (Criterion, and Wyndham’s, Dec 2023); The House of Bernarda Alba (as Producer – National Theatre, Nov 2023); Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Sheffield, Lyric Hammersmith and Theatre Royal Haymarket); A Little Life (as Producer – Richmond, Harold Pinter and Savoy); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (UK & Ireland Tour); Good (Harold Pinter); Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical (Lyric); My Fair Lady (Coliseum and UK & Ireland Tour); The Mirror and the Light (Gielgud); Noises Off (Garrick); Kinky Boots (UK &  Ireland Tour); Imperium (Gielgud); Quiz (Noël Coward); The Moderate Soprano (Duke of York’s); Shrek The Musical (UK & Ireland Tours); Edward Albee’s The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Don Juan in Soho (Wyndham’s); No Man’s Land (UK Tour & Wyndham’s); Kinky Boots (Adelphi); Hangmen (Wyndham’s); American Buffalo (Wyndham’s); The Audience (Gielgud, Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Broadway and Apollo); Executive Producer on the Netflix TV series The Crown (based on The Audience); Wolf Hall: Parts 1 & 2 (Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway), Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies (Aldwych); The Weir (Wyndham’s); South Downs/The Browning Version (Harold Pinter); Sweeney Todd (Adelphi); Hay Fever (Noël Coward); Flare Path (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Yes, Prime Minister (Gielgud, Apollo, Trafalgar Studios and three UK Tours); Krapp’s Last Tape (Duchess); Red (Golden Theatre, Broadway); Enron (Noël Coward); Frost/Nixon (Donmar Warehouse, Gielgud and Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway).

As General Manager productions include Wicked (Apollo Victoria, UK & Ireland Tours and International Tour); Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Piccadilly); MJ (Prince Edward, 2024); Next To Normal (Wyndam’s, June 2024); Come From Away (Abbey Theatre, Dublin and Phoenix); Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill (Wyndham’s); An American in Paris (Dominion); Groundhog Day (The Old Vic); Blithe Spirit (Gielgud); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane); Dirty Dancing (Aldwych, UK Tours and Piccadilly); Shrek The Musical (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane); Million Dollar Quartet (Noël Coward) and Clybourne Park (Wyndham’s).

As Executive Producer productions include Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Piccadilly); MJ (Prince Edward, 2024) and Wild Rose (in development). 

About Chichester Festival Theatre
At Chichester Festival Theatre, we believe that the experience of live art has the power to change lives. Our mission is to enrich our communities – locally, regionally, nationally and internationally – through compelling, entertaining and enlightening theatre. 

Chichester Festival Theatre is one of the UK’s flagship theatres. The Unfriend is the latest of innumerable productions originated at Chichester which have transferred to the West End or toured nationally and internationally over the past six decades, from musicals to significant new plays and classic revivals. London transfers from Chichester include South Pacific (currently on a UK tour); Singin’ in the Rain; Laura Wade’s The Watsons; Caroline, Or Change (also on Broadway); Ian McKellen in King Lear (also broadcast to cinemas internationally by NT Live); and James Graham's Quiz. 

Rooted firmly in its community, the Theatre’s Learning, Education and Participation (LEAP) department works with people of all ages and abilities, offering a pioneering range of initiatives which excite and inspire all those who take part.