
Written by Jonathan Sayer and Ed Zanders
HOME Manchester, Mercury Theatre Colchester & JPT Productions originally commissioned and presented the world premiere of the Mischief’s first ever musical Thespians in Colchester at the Mercury Theatre on 9 May 2026, followed by a UK tour that culminated in a 2 week run at HOME Manchester until 18 July 2026.
Thespians received positive response from audiences and critics including 5 star reviews from WhatsOnStage and The Stage.
If you thought something funny happened on the way to the forum, wait until you hear what happened en route to the amphitheatre!
Greece is the word. Ancient Greece to be specific. It’s the year 534 BC and the entire country has been ravaged by a dreadful drought.
Thespis and his sister Poly live on the tiny island of Ikaria where nothing ever really happens, until the entire population (all five of them) are forced to go to Athens to compete in a deadly prayer competition. All hope is lost until Thespis stumbles upon something that will change the world forever.
Written by Jonathan Sayer (co-writer of The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery) and Ed Zanders (musical director, Mischief Movie Night), and packed with comedy, chaos and choreography, do not miss Mischief’s first musical about the power of walking a greek mile in someone else’s sandals.
GALLERY
HOME Manchester, Mercury Theatre Colchester & JPT Productions
present the MISCHIEF production
Creative Team
JONATHAN SAYER
Book & Lyrics
ED ZANDERS
Music & Lyrics
Robyn Grant
Director
Jasmine Swan
Designer
Melody Sinclair
Choreographer
David Howe
Lighting Designer
Nick Lodge
Sound Designer
Ben Smith
Musical Director
Joe Allen
Associate Director
Lucy Jenkins CDG
Casting
Sooki McShane CDG
Casting
Henry Lewis
Executive Producer
ORIGINAL TOURING CAST
Allie Dart
Rhapsodes
Claire-Marie Hall
Poly
James Spence
Thespis
Luke Latchman
Atlas
Mark Pickering
Adonis
Matt Cavendish
Bard
Mia Jerome
Melampus
Rhys Taylor
The Tyrant
Ashley Tucker
Ensemble
Curtis Patrick
Ensemble
Josh Patel-Foster
Ensemble