The Comedy About Spies
Get ready to laugh, agents: Mischief Theatre’s WhatsOnStage Award-winning The Comedy About Spies is back in the West End for a strictly limited season. This slapstick Cold War spoof is packed full of double-agents, misdirection and absolute mayhem - making it another winner from the team behind The Play That Goes Wrong and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery. MI5, CIA, KGB… LOL? Book tickets to see it at the Adelphi Theatre this spring.
FIND TICKETS
Booking from 1 August 2026 until 26 September 2026
Box Office Contacts
| Box Office: | +44 (0) 20 7087 7754 |
| Access Booking: | +44 (0) 20 7087 7966 |
| Group Booking: | 0203 925 2996 |
| Stage Door: | 020 7836 1166 |
History
Originally opening in 1806, the Adelphi Theatre had early performance roots in pantomime, burletta, operas and melodrama, with many productions dubbed as Adelphi Screamers.
In the 1830’s, the Adelphi became well-known for producing some of the first stage adaptations of Charles Dickens novels. For example throughout the mid 1800’s, the Adelphi was home to The Bloomsbury Christening, The Pickwick Papers, Nicholas Nickleby and A Christmas Carol.
One of the most famous murders in theatrical history took place at the Adelphi Theatre. In 1897, actor William Terris was stabbed to death at the stage door before he was due to star in a performance of Secret Service. Terris’ ghost is said to haunt the theatre to this day.
The early 20th century saw a greater influx of musicals and operettas at the Adelphi, including The Earl and The Girl (1904) and The Quaker Girl (1910). Towards the mid-20th century the theatre premiered Noel Coward’s Words and Music (1932), and later when on to resume its trend of light-hearted musicals such as Maggie May (1964) and A Little Night Music (1975).
In more recent years, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group purchased the theatre and presented big musicals such as Sunset Boulevard (1993), Chicago (1997), Evita (2006), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (2007), Love Never Dies (2010) and Sweeney Todd (2012).
In a slight break from the current trend of large-scale musicals, the theatre became home to the National Theatre's hugely successful One Man Two Guvnors (2011), which then moved to the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
In 2012, The Bodyguard musical made its world debut at the Adelphi Theatre. Heather Headley originated the role of Rachel Marron in the show and was then replaced by international superstar Beverley Knight, who was later replaced by X Factor winner Alexandra Burke.
In December 2014, the musical premiere of Made in Dagenham opened at the Adelphi Theatre, starring Gemma Arterton. Despite encouraging reviews, the show closed in the spring of 2015, making way for the West End debut of Broadway hit Kinky Boots, which played from September 2015 - January 2019.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group rebranded as LW Theatres (Lloyd Webber Theatres) in 2018, vowing to step up their service and improve the look of their website.
The Broadway transfer of musical Waitress headed into the Adelphi at the beginning of 2019, starring Smash star Katharine McPhee. Following McPhee's run, Eurovision and X Factor star Lucie Jones joined the cast in June, and the show's composer and singing sensation, Sara Bareilles began a limited six-week run in January 2020. Waitress closed prematurely in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Adelphi Theatre reopened in 2021 with the London premiere of Back to the Future the Musical, which ran until April 2026.
In spring 2026, Mischief Theatre's The Comedy About Spies returns to the West End for a limited season.
In the 1830’s, the Adelphi became well-known for producing some of the first stage adaptations of Charles Dickens novels. For example throughout the mid 1800’s, the Adelphi was home to The Bloomsbury Christening, The Pickwick Papers, Nicholas Nickleby and A Christmas Carol.
One of the most famous murders in theatrical history took place at the Adelphi Theatre. In 1897, actor William Terris was stabbed to death at the stage door before he was due to star in a performance of Secret Service. Terris’ ghost is said to haunt the theatre to this day.
The early 20th century saw a greater influx of musicals and operettas at the Adelphi, including The Earl and The Girl (1904) and The Quaker Girl (1910). Towards the mid-20th century the theatre premiered Noel Coward’s Words and Music (1932), and later when on to resume its trend of light-hearted musicals such as Maggie May (1964) and A Little Night Music (1975).
In more recent years, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group purchased the theatre and presented big musicals such as Sunset Boulevard (1993), Chicago (1997), Evita (2006), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (2007), Love Never Dies (2010) and Sweeney Todd (2012).
In a slight break from the current trend of large-scale musicals, the theatre became home to the National Theatre's hugely successful One Man Two Guvnors (2011), which then moved to the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
In 2012, The Bodyguard musical made its world debut at the Adelphi Theatre. Heather Headley originated the role of Rachel Marron in the show and was then replaced by international superstar Beverley Knight, who was later replaced by X Factor winner Alexandra Burke.
In December 2014, the musical premiere of Made in Dagenham opened at the Adelphi Theatre, starring Gemma Arterton. Despite encouraging reviews, the show closed in the spring of 2015, making way for the West End debut of Broadway hit Kinky Boots, which played from September 2015 - January 2019.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group rebranded as LW Theatres (Lloyd Webber Theatres) in 2018, vowing to step up their service and improve the look of their website.
The Broadway transfer of musical Waitress headed into the Adelphi at the beginning of 2019, starring Smash star Katharine McPhee. Following McPhee's run, Eurovision and X Factor star Lucie Jones joined the cast in June, and the show's composer and singing sensation, Sara Bareilles began a limited six-week run in January 2020. Waitress closed prematurely in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Adelphi Theatre reopened in 2021 with the London premiere of Back to the Future the Musical, which ran until April 2026.
In spring 2026, Mischief Theatre's The Comedy About Spies returns to the West End for a limited season.
