Henry Lewis (playwright)

Henry William Lewis (born 21 November 1988) is a British actor and playwright. He co-founded Mischief Theatre, responsible for The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, Groan Ups, Magic Goes Wrong and The Goes Wrong Show, and co-hosts Riddiculous, an ITV daytime game show.

Henry Lewis
Lewis in 2022
Born
Henry William Lewis

(1988-11-21) 21 November 1988 (age 35)
Slough, Berkshire, England
EducationLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupation
  • Actor
Years active2008–present

Career

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Magic Goes Wrong, Apollo Theatre, February 2022

In 2008, Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields co-founded Mischief Theatre while they were studying a drama foundation course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[1]

In 2012, Lewis co-wrote with Sayer and Shields The Play That Goes Wrong,[2] which premiered later that year at The Old Red Lion, Islington.[3] Lewis played Robert Grove in both the original London cast[4] and the original Broadway cast.[5] In 2013, another Lewis, Sayer and Shields production, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, premiered at The Pleasance Theatre.[6] with Lewis amongst its original cast, playing Robert.[7]

In 2016, Lewis', Sayer's and Shields' play The Comedy About a Bank Robbery opened at the Criterion Theatre; Lewis was amongst its original cast, and played Robin Freeboys.[8] In August 2019, Magic Goes Wrong, a play written by Lewis, Sayer, Shields, Penn and Teller, premiered at the Quays Theatre; Lewis played Mind Mangler,[9] and subsequently took him on tour.[10][11] In September 2019, the next Lewis, Sayer and Shields play, Groan Ups, premiered at Vaudeville Theatre, as part of a projected year-long residency at the theatre (later curtailed due to COVID-19 restrictions[12]),[13] with Lewis playing Spencer.[14] In 2020, Lewis launched The Mystery Agency, an escape-room style puzzle game, on Kickstarter.[15]

In 2016, a production of Peter Pan Goes Wrong was aired by BBC1, with Lewis playing Robert.[16] The following year, they aired A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, with Lewis playing Robert.[17] BBC1 aired twelve episodes of The Goes Wrong Show[18] between December 2019[19] and November 2021.[20] In 2022, he started playing the Riddlemaster in Riddiculous, an ITV daytime game show hosted by Ranvir Singh.[21]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Royal Variety Performance Robert Grove ITV1 (recorded at The Royal Albert Hall)
2016 Keep it in the Family Narrator ITV1 (1 episode)
Peter Pan Goes Wrong Robert Grove BBC1 (Christmas Special, also writer)
2017 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Self NBC (1 episode) [22]
A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong Robert Grove BBC1 (Christmas Special, also writer)
2018 We Are Most Amused & Amazed Mind Mangler ITV1 (Prince Charles' 70th Birthday Celebrations at The London Palladium)
2019 Royal Variety Performance Spencer ITV1 (recorded at The London Palladium)
2019–2021 The Goes Wrong Show Robert Grove BBC1 (2 series, 12 episodes, also writer) [23]
2020 Children in Need Robert Grove BBC1
2021 The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe Yucky Duck, The Golden Father, The Golden Grandfather, Axel the Giant Cartoon Network (3 episodes)
2022 Comic Relief Mind Mangler BBC1
2022–present Riddiculous Self/Riddlemaster ITV1 (45 episodes) [24]
2024 The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin Baron Von Louth Apple TV+ (1 episode)

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2010 Showstopper! The Improvised Musical Ensemble Greenwich Theatre & Arts Depot
2011 Beasts & Beauties Ensemble & Understudy Hampstead Theatre
2012 Mercury Fur Party Guest Old Red Lion, Islington and Trafalgar Studios (also producer) [25]
2012-

2013

The Play That Goes Wrong Robert Grove Old Red Lion, Islington and Trafalgar Studios (also producer and co-writer with Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields
2014 Superior Donuts - Southwark Playhouse (producer)
The Play That Goes Wrong Robert Grove Duchess Theatre, West End, UK & International Tour
2015 Peter Pan Goes Wrong Robert Grove Apollo Theatre, West End (also co-writer with Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)
2016 The Comedy About a Bank Robbery Mr. Robin Freeboys Criterion Theatre, West End (also co-writer with Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)
2017 The Play That Goes Wrong Robert Grove Lyceum Theater, Broadway [26]
Mischief Movie Night Ensemble & Oscar Arts Theatre, West End (also co-creator)
2018 UK Tour
2019 Groan Ups Spencer Vaudeville Theatre, West End (also co-writer with Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)
2020 Magic Goes Wrong Mind Mangler Vaudeville Theatre, West End (also co-writer with Penn and Teller, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)
2020-

2021

Mischief Movie Night Ensemble & Oscar UK Tour (Open Air Theatres)
Mischief Movie Night-In Live Stream (50 episodes) broadcast from Immersive LDN & Riverside Studios [27]
2021 Magic Goes Wrong Mind Mangler Apollo Theatre, West End
2022 Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle Mind Mangler Pleasance Edinburgh (also co-writer with Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)
Mischief Movie Night Ensemble Pleasance Edinburgh
Starship Improvise Frank Brass
Good Luck, Studio - UK Tour (director) [28]
Austentatious Ensemble Arts Theatre, West End & UK Tour
2023 Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle Mind Mangler Garrick Theatre & Prince of Wales Theatre, West End & UK Tour
Peter Pan Goes Wrong Robert Grove Ethel Barrymore Theater, Broadway [29]
Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles
Mind Mangler: A Night of Tragic Illusion Mind Mangler New World Stages, Off Broadway, New York City

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2012 Off West End Award Best Production Mercury Fur Nominated
2014 WhatsOnStage Award Best New Comedy The Play That Goes Wrong Won [30]
2015 Laurence Olivier Award Won [31]
2016 Laurence Olivier Award Peter Pan Goes Wrong Nominated [32]
Molière Award Best Comedy The Play That Goes Wrong Won
2017 Laurence Olivier Award Best New Comedy The Comedy About a Bank Robbery Nominated [33]
Drama League Award Best Play The Play That Goes Wrong Nominated [34]
Molière Award Best Comedy The Comedy About a Bank Robbery
Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Favorite New Play The Play That Goes Wrong Nominated
2018 Laurence Olivier Award Best New Comedy Mischief Movie Night Nominated [35]
2020 TV Choice Awards Best New Comedy The Goes Wrong Show Nominated
Laurence Olivier Award Best New Comedy Magic Goes Wrong Nominated [36]
2022 WhatsOnStage Award Best New Play Nominated
Best Performer in a Male Identifying Role in a Play Nominated
Best West End Show The Play That Goes Wrong Nominated
TV Choice Awards Best Comedy Performance The Goes Wrong Show Nominated
2023 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Broadway Play Peter Pan Goes Wrong Nominated
Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Favorite New Play Won [37]
Drama Desk Award Unique Theatrical Experience Won [38]
Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a Play Nominated [39]

References

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  1. ^ "About Us". Mischief Theatre. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  2. ^ Walker, Tim (18 September 2014). "The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre, review: 'delightful'". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  3. ^ "The Play That Goes Wrong proves right for West End". The Guardian. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  4. ^ "The Play That Goes Wrong". Theatre Record: 916. 10–23 September 2014.
  5. ^ "The Play That Goes Wrong Original Broadway Play Cast 2017". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  6. ^ "REVIEW: Peter Pan Goes Wrong at The Alexandra". Black Country Radio. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Henry Lewis". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Theatre review: The Comedy About a Bank Robbery at Criterion Theatre". British Theatre Guide. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Magic Goes Wrong on stage in London from 21 October 2021". Thisistheatre.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Mind Mangler review – Magic Goes Wrong spin-off is all fun and mind games". The Guardian. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle review". The Stage. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Mischief's Magic Goes Wrong, The Play That Goes Wrong, and Groan Ups Will Tour U.K." Playbill.
  13. ^ "A Look at Mischief Theatre's Groan Ups in the West End". Playbill.
  14. ^ "'Groan Ups' review". Time Out. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Feature: Henry Lewis's THE MYSTERY AGENCY Launches On Kickstarter". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Peter Pan Goes Wrong". BBC1. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  17. ^ "A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  18. ^ "The Goes Wrong Show". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  19. ^ "The Spirit of Christmas". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  20. ^ "The Cornley Drama Festival Part 2". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  21. ^ "First glimpse at Ranvir Singh and Henry Lewis in new ITV game show Riddiculous". Lancashire Live. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  22. ^ The Interview That Goes Wrong with J.J. Abrams, retrieved 11 April 2023
  23. ^ "The Goes Wrong Show (TV Series 2019– ) – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Riddiculous (TV Series 2022– ) – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  25. ^ Smith, Patrick (4 June 2012). "Mercury Fur, Trafalgar Studios, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  26. ^ Paulson, Michael (23 March 2017). "In 'The Play That Goes Wrong,' It's Murder, Strictly for Laughs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  27. ^ "Mischief Movie Night In". Riverside Studios. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  28. ^ "Good Luck, Studio". Wiltshire Creative. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  29. ^ Paulson, Michael (5 January 2023). "British Comedy 'Peter Pan Goes Wrong' Plans Spring Broadway Bow". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  30. ^ "Full List: Winners of the 2014 WhatsOnStage Awards". WhatsOnStage.com. 23 February 2014.
  31. ^ "Olivier Winners 2015". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  32. ^ "Olivier Winners 2016". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  33. ^ "Olivier Winners 2017". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  34. ^ "Dear Evan Hansen's Ben Platt, Hello, Dolly! and More Are Winners of Drama League Awards". Playbill. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  35. ^ "Olivier Awards 2018". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  36. ^ "Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard – Theatre's Biggest Night". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  37. ^ "Into the Woods Tops Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Winners". Broadway.com. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  38. ^ Considine, Allison (31 May 2023). "2023 Drama Desk Award winners announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  39. ^ "2023 Awards - The Drama League". dramaleague.org. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
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