Go down to the Criterion Theatre, take your seat, sit back and be prepared to be astounded by this non-stop, hyperactive, pun-fest of an uber-farce played to destruction by a cast which is in constant danger of being arrested for riotous assembly. In fact, last night saw the arrival of the new cast - the show premiered in March 2016 - and the transition was as seamless as a onesie and begs the question: “Can there really be more than one team of such anarchic, unruly, uproarious pranksters … [Read more...]
Criterion Theatre London Tickets, News & Reviews
One giant diamond.
Eight incompetent crooks.
And a security guard asleep on the job.
What could possibly go right?
Written by and starring the Mischief Theatre Company who brought you the 2015 Olivier award-winning Best New Comedy "The Play That Goes Wrong" and "Peter Pan Goes Wrong", book now, to be entertained by their unique brand of humour in this hilarious new show - The Comedy About a Bank Robbery.
It would be criminal to miss it.
"It came across to me as the latest in a long line of British farces, and it’s a sufficiently enjoyable couple of hours. The timing, as is required for a British farce of this kind, is impeccable down to the half-second. As ever with Mischief Theatre the primary objective appears to be to provide light entertainment rather than to give its audiences deep and meaningful storylines. There are elements of the plot that are never properly explored or explained, but the show is best enjoyed by overlooking the shortcomings in the narrative, and going with the flow."
Read our 4-star review of The Comedy About a Bank Robbery
Age Restrictions: Suitable for 10+
The Criterion Theatre London
Piccadilly Circus, London, SW1Y 4XA
Venue and Travel Information
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus
Tube Lines: Bakerloo, Piccadilly
Directions from nearest tube: The theatre can be seen on Piccadilly Circus next to the Eros statue.
Railway Station: Charing Cross
Bus Numbers: (Haymarket) 3, 6, 12, 13, 19, 23, 38, 88, 139; (Regent Street) 14, 15, 22, 94, 159, 453
Night Bus Numbers: (Haymarket) 6, 12, 23, 88, 139, 159, N3, N13, N18, N19, N38, N97, N136, N550, N551; (Regent Street) 14, 94, 159, 453, N15, N22, N109
Car Park: Leicester Square, Whitcomb Street
The Criterion Theatre London
In 1870 following the acquisition of the site of the 17th century White Bear Inn and adjoining properties between Jermyn Street and Piccadilly Circus (known as Regent Circus). Caterers Spiers and Pond commissioned Thomas Verity to design a development which would consist of a substantial restaurant, dining rooms, ballroom, and galleried concert hall. Having started building work it was decided to change the proposed concert hall, (though retaining the composers names which still line the tiled staircases to this day), to a theatre which opened on 21st March, 1874.
The opening productions were An American Lady, written and performed by the manager Henry J Byron and a piece by W.S. Gilbert titled Topseyturveydom.
Under the management of Charles Wyndham, The Criterion established itself as the leading comedy house in London. Between 1920 and 1940 productions included Musical Chairs with John Gielgud, and in 1936 a three year run of French Without Tears which founded the career of Terence Rattigan.
During the Second World War The Criterion was taken over by the BBC. As an underground theatre it was suitable for light entertainment both recorded and live. Following the war, were productions such as Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and pieces by Anouilh, Dario Fo and others.
In the 1970′s the Criterion Theatre site was proposed for redevelopment, which caused significant public protest as people feared the theatre would be gone forever. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s the Equity Save London’s Theatre Committee organised demonstrations. Notable campaigners from the world of stage included John Gielgud, Diana Rigg, Edward Woodward, Robert Morley and Prunella Scales. Finally, the theatre’s future was secured, although subsequently the theatre closed for three years from 1989, until reopening in October 1992 while the Criterion block that stands today, was constructed around it. With significant refurbishment both backstage, and in the front of house, The Criterion Theatre has retained an almost perfectly preserved Victorian auditorium. From 1996 to 2005 The Reduced Shakespeare Company entranced audiences with their 30+ snippets from Shakespeare, even with one performance being performed backwards! The theatre retains its Victorian auditorium which ensures the Criterion retains an intimate and atmospheric presence for those on stage and in the audience. The 39 Steps closed on Saturday 5th September 2015.
Review of Mr Popper’s Penguins at the Criterion Theatre
Welcome to Stillwater. The town where everyone will fit in, including Mr Popper, a painter and decorator, who wants to go on adventures and dreams of going to see all of the favourite places in the books he reads. He imagines getting closer to the summit, with each step he climbs up the ladder while he holds a paint brush in his hand, he imagines traversing snowy landscapes while white sheets are being shaken in the background. His conversations over the radio with the famous explorer, … [Read more...]
The Comedy About a Bank Robbery ‘not to be missed’ – Review
Who could have predicted, a few years ago, that Mischief Theatre - who once performed a fringe show in which the cast outnumbered the audience - would one day have no less than three successful plays running simultaneously in the West End? Following the runaway success of The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong, the company's latest show is a fast, frantic and totally bonkers comedy about a bank robbery. Which, coincidentally, is also the name of the play. Written by Henry Lewis, … [Read more...]
Review of The Comedy About A Bank Robbery
It doesn’t fall foul of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 in any way – The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is, well, an amusing story about a bank robbery, from Mischief Theatre, the theatre company that brought The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong to the West End stage. This is not simply yet another ‘goes wrong’ production – it is hardly a spoiler to say that it can’t, by definition, actually be about a bank robbery if the said bank robbery was unsuccessful. Do … [Read more...]
Close To You: Bacharach Reimagined extends run at Criterion Theatre
CLOSE TO YOU: BACHARACH REIMAGINED has today announced that it is extending its West End transfer at the Criterion Theatre until Valentine’s Day 14th February 2016. Opening to public and critical acclaim on 15th October, the new musical CLOSE TO YOU featuring Burt Bacharach’s songbook, broke box office records at the Criterion Theatre with the biggest advance in the venue’s history. Sally Greene, Chief Executive of the Criterion Theatre said: ‘I couldn’t be more thrilled that we have been … [Read more...]
CLOSE TO YOU Bacharach Reimagined at the Criterion Theatre
Close To You Bacharach Reimagined has its Opening Night on 15th October, 2015 - with bookings through to 10th January 2016. Close to You, a musical featuring Burt Bacharach’s songbook, makes its highly anticipated West End transfer to the Criterion Theatre from 3rd October. Performed by a young, multi-talented cast led by the visionary musician and performer Kyle Riabko, the show features Riabko’s thrillingly new yet beautifully faithful interpretations of Bacharach’s classics. Blending … [Read more...]
The 39 Steps will close on 5th September at the Criterion Theatre
On Saturday 5th September 2015 The 39 Steps will close after 9 years at the Criterion Theatre. Based on John Buchan’s 1914 spy thriller The Thirty Nine Steps and adapted for the stage by Patrick Barlow (Desmond Oliver Dingle/The National Theatre of Brent), The 39 Steps is directed by Maria Aitken, with design by Peter McKintosh, lighting by Ian Scott, sound by Mic Pool, and movement by Toby Sedgwick. The 39 Steps is presented by Edward Snape for Fiery Angel and Tricycle London Productions … [Read more...]