The boys behind Inside No.9 are back with the long-mooted theatre version of their hit genre anthology series, aptly titled Stage/Fright. Quite what those frights entail is a secret too juicy to ruin, and multiple warnings posted around the theatre ask attendees not to share any spoilers or pictures from the show. And what a show it is! Series creators Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton are consummate showmen, having used nine series of their BBC2 comedy-drama to prove themselves as masters of tone, genre and game-changing plot twists.

This stage version of the television series is no different – a uniquely Inside No.9 take on the screen-to-stage adaptation, delivering scares and fan service in (almost) equal measure. As the pair did successfully did for 10 years, Stage/Fright sees the pair deftly weaving comedy and horror to create a live performance that’s exciting, unpredictable, and even a little bit scary. What goes on Inside No.9 should stay Inside No.9, of course, but we can take a peek through the letter box, can’t we? Or in this case… behind the curtain.

With episodes like The Devil of Christmas, Hold On Tight! and Dead Line, Shearsmith and Pemberton became notorious for being tricksy ones, and those taking in Stage/Fright will have their eye out for a twist or two. A shocking opening sketch makes clear that the pair will be making full use of the all-new medium, doing for theatre what they did with television and film convention. And, with a sly wink to the likes of 2:22: A Ghost Story, Sir Kenneth Branagh’s King Lear and many a Jamie Lloyd production, the former Royston Vasey men have plenty to say… most of it phrased as a pun.

Like much of their work, Stage/Fright toys with space, form and audience expectation, cheerily segueing from one carefully-crafted thing to the next – weaving in acts of vaudeville, grand guignol and gothic horror. After its opening skit – pure distilled Inside No.9, and a self-contained concept in itself – the show’s first act is mostly concerned with its own past, visited through the lens of one of its most beloved episodes.

This is a clever way to give the fans what they want, incorporating old material (almost word for word!) with new, while utilising a spooky bookend device which demonstrates their love of Gothic horror and theatre folklore. However, it’s in the second half where Shearsmith and Pemberton really get playful, staging a dramatic horrorshow which veers from the traditional to the avant-garde. Amid the fireworks and jump scares, the Psychoville stars pay tribute to some of theatre’s newer tricks, in a segment which closely resembles the 2018 live episode Dead Line, in tone and form.

It’s a clever use of modern technology, although those in the nosebleeds should be forewarned – the Wyndham’s vertigo-inducing back seats make it difficult to keep track of everything that’s going on. With Shearsmith and Pemberton taking centre stage, the duo are well-supported by director Simon Evans and their cast, all of whom get into the No.9 spirit to bring the new material to life. The series’ horror roots and comedy influences are well-represented, but if this stage version is missing anything, it’s some of the emotional beats which made The 12 Days of Christine and Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room feel so striking.

That’s not to say there’s no emotion there – after so many years together, the love between Pemberton, Shearsmith and the thing they’ve created is palpable – but it’s more concerned with rattling off puns than tapping into a deeper emotional core. Still, Pemberton and Shearsmith say it best, and the rallying cry ‘if you’re going to cry, cry tears of laughter’ soon becomes the play’s motto. And there are plenty of those to be shed here – between all the jump scares.

A truly hair – sorry, hare – raising experience, and an inventive celebration of all things Inside No.9. What I Own: I quit London at 48 and bought my first home in Sussex for £325,000. I bought a house with my partner — but when we broke up, he refused to sell. I build 20ft tiny homes for homeless people (and they only cost £12,000). London's cheapest place to rent revealed — but it might not be for long.

Londoners are flocking to this ‘bustling’ neighbourhood 10 miles from the centre. Inside No.9: Stage/Fright is playing at Wyndham’s Theatre until April 5 2025. Got a story?. If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.