Jonathan Sayer

English playwright and sketch comedian, part of Mischief Theatre

Actor

Years active2008–present

Jonathan Sayer 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.

Career

In 2008, Sayer, Henry Lewis, 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, Sayer co-wrote with Lewis and Shields The Play That Goes Wrong,^[2] which premiered later that year at The Old Red Lion, Islington.^[3] Sayer played Dennis Tyde 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 Sayer amongst its original cast, playing Dennis.^[7]

In 2016, Lewis', Sayer's and Shields' play The Comedy About a Bank Robbery opened at the Criterion Theatre; Sayer was amongst its original cast, and played Warren Slax.^[8] In August 2019, Magic Goes Wrong, a play written by Lewis, Sayer, Shields, Penn and Teller, premiered at the Quays Theatre; Sayer played Mikey,^[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 Sayer playing Simon.^[14]

In 2016, a production of Peter Pan Goes Wrong was aired by BBC1, with Sayer playing Dennis.^[15] The following year, they aired A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, with Sayer playing Dennis.^[16] BBC1 aired twelve episodes of The Goes Wrong Show^[17] between December 2019^[18] and November 2021.^[19]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2014	WhatsOnStage Award	Best New Comedy	The Play That Goes Wrong	Won
2015	Laurence Olivier Award		The Play That Goes Wrong	Won
2016			Peter Pan Goes Wrong	Nominated
2017			The Comedy About a Bank Robbery	Nominated
2017	Drama League Award	Best Play	The Play That Goes Wrong	Nominated
2020	Laurence Olivier Award	Best New Comedy	Magic Goes Wrong	Nominated

References

^ "About Us". Mischief Theatre. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
^ Walker, Tim (18 September 2014). "The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre, review: 'delightful'". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
^ "The Play That Goes Wrong proves right for West End". The Guardian. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "The Play That Goes Wrong". Theatre Record: 916. 10–23 September 2014.
^ "The Play That Goes Wrong Original Broadway Play Cast 2017". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
^ "REVIEW: Peter Pan Goes Wrong at The Alexandra". Black Country Radio. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "Henry Lewis". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "Theatre review: The Comedy About a Bank Robbery at Criterion Theatre". British Theatre Guide. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "Magic Goes Wrong on stage in London from 21 October 2021". Thisistheatre.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "Mind Mangler review – Magic Goes Wrong spin-off is all fun and mind games". The Guardian. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle review". The Stage. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "Mischief's Magic Goes Wrong, The Play That Goes Wrong, and Groan Ups Will Tour U.K." Playbill.
^ "A Look at Mischief Theatre's Groan Ups in the West End". Playbill.
^ "'Groan Ups' review". Time Out. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "Peter Pan Goes Wrong". BBC1. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "The Goes Wrong Show". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "The Spirit of Christmas". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^ "The Cornley Drama Festival Part 2". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.