A West End return of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ The Unfriend begins December 16. Playing Wyndham's Theatre, opening night for the new comedy by the Doctor Who and BBC Sherlock collaborators is set for January 9, 2024.
The play was seen at the Criterion earlier this year, enjoying a successful limited run from January 15 to April 16, following a premiere at the Chichester Festival.
The new company stars Lee Mack (Would I Lie To You, Not Going Out, Inside No. 9) as Peter, Sarah Alexander (Jonathan Creek, Green Wing, Smack The Pony and Coupling) as Debbie, Frances Barber (Silk, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool) as Elsa Jean Krakowski, and Nick Sampson (Witness for the Prosecution, Anthony and Cleopatra) as The Neighbour.
They are joined by by Muzz Khan (Behind The Beautiful, Ten (Stop The War)) as PC Junkin, Maddie Holliday (Afterlife) as Rosie, and Jem Matthews as Alex. The company will be completed by Christopher Jordan (Hedda Gabler, The Unfriend), Cathy Walker (Witness for the Prosecution, The Unfriend), Charlie Richards (The Play That Goes Wrong, Four Score Years And Ten), and Poppy Shepherd (Our Generation).
The Unfriend centers on the married British couple Peter and Debbie, who strike up a traveling friendship with the eccentric, Trump-loving American, Elsa. After innocently promising to keep in touch, they’re shocked when Elsa lets them know she’s coming to them. After looking her up on line, it becomes clear that she is a deadly danger, but one thing overrides their self-preservation instinct: their need to never be perceived as rude, even to a serial killer.
Moffat is a six-time BAFTA Award-winning writer, whose successful television forays into Doctor Who, BBC Sherlock, and BBC Dracula have made him a household name. All three have featured collaborations between Moffat and Gatiss, with the pair co-writing both BBC Sherlock and BBC Dracula.
In addition to Gatiss' work as a director, he is a member of the sketch comedy team The League of Gentlemen. He recently adapted A Christmas Carol at Nottingham Playhouse and Alexandra Palace, and starred as John Gielgud in The Motive and the Cue at the National Theatre.
The Unfriend is designed by Robert Jones, with lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Ella Wahlström, video design by Andrzej Goulding, and casting by Charlotte Sutton. The Unfriend was originally developed by Playful Productions.
