MISCHIEF THEATRE LIMITED

What MISCHIEF THEATRE LIMITED does

Mischief Theatre Limited (operating legally as Mischief Worldwide Ltd., registered in England & Wales, company number 10903636) is a privately held British comedy entertainment company founded in 2007 by students and graduates of the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA). The company creates and produces ensemble-driven physical comedy for stage, screen and education, with a distinctive in-house methodology centred on 'serious silliness' — slapstick, farce, improvisation, clowning and meticulously choreographed on-stage chaos. Its core IP is a catalogue of original comedy titles, most prominently the 'Goes Wrong' franchise, which has run continuously in the West End since 2014 and in New York since 2016.

Mischief's products span live stage productions (The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Comedy About Spies, Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, Magic Goes Wrong, Groan Ups, Thespians, Mind Mangler), the BBC television series The Goes Wrong Show, the nine-season Mischief Makers podcast, a secondary-school education programme (Learn With Mischief), professional and beginner workshops, and an official merchandise shop. The company operates productions in London's West End (Duchess, Adelphi, Wyndham's theatres), Off-Broadway (New World Stages), Los Angeles (Center Theatre Group) and Australia, with an active UK touring slate.

The business model combines five revenue streams: live theatre ticket sales (via direct platform Mischief Tickets and partner box offices such as LW Theatres and Nimax Theatres), performance rights licensing distributed globally through Concord Theatricals for USA/Canada and direct for the rest of the world (excluding UK), merchandise sales, workshop and course fees (£290 per six-week course), and education programme licensing to schools. Strategic producing partners include Kenny Wax Ltd. for West End and touring productions, Stage Presence for The Comedy About Spies, and HOME Manchester / Mercury Theatre Colchester / JPT Productions for Thespians. The company is founder-controlled, with no disclosed external funding or public listing.

Name

MISCHIEF THEATRE LIMITED

Legal name

Mischief Worldwide Ltd.

Website

https://mischieftheatre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mischief Theatre Limited (legally Mischief Worldwide Ltd.) is a privately held British comedy entertainment company, founded in 2007 by LAMDA graduates, that produces award-winning physical comedy for stage, screen and education — including The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Christmas Carol Goes Wrong and The Goes Wrong Show on BBC — and licences its catalogue to professional and amateur producers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Comedy Theatre & Entertainment

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Comedy Shows & Spoken-Word Events (THAJAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH), Virtual Theater, Comedy & Performing Arts (Digital Performances) (MPAGAOAF)

Keywords

• Comedy theatre productions
• Live stage performances
• Theatrical licensing rights
• Comedy education programs
• Theatre merchandise sales

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Live Theatre Ticket Sales: Revenue from West End productions, touring shows, and international performances in London, New York, LA, and Australia.
2. Licensing and Performance Rights: Licensing fees charged to professional, amateur, and school productions for performance rights to Mischief shows.
3. Merchandise and Shop: Sale of official merchandise including scripts, DVDs, clothing, accessories, and memorabilia related to Mischief shows.
4. Workshops and Courses: Educational programmes including professional workshops (£290 for 6-week courses) and beginner/community workshops for amateur acting enthusiasts.
5. Education Programme Licensing: Schools in USA and Canada can license The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong for educational performances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Mischief Theatre Limited is a UK-based comedy theatre company that creates, produces, and tours live comedy stage productions (e.g., The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Comedy About Spies, Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, Thespians) at the West End, on UK tours, in New York, Los Angeles, and Australia. Beyond live performance, it monetises its catalogue through worldwide performance-rights licensing (handled in North America by Concord Theatricals), an official merchandise shop, paid comedy workshops for performers, a secondary-school education programme (Learn With Mischief), a podcast series, and a BBC television adaptation (The Goes Wrong Show).

Product overview

MISCHIEF THEATRE LIMITED is an award-winning comedy entertainment company that operates as a multi-product portfolio rather than a unified software platform. The core offering consists of live stage productions including The Play That Goes Wrong (celebrating over 10 years in the West End), Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Comedy About Spies, Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, Magic Goes Wrong, Groan Ups, Thespians (their first musical), and Mind Mangler. Complementary offerings include The Goes Wrong Show (BBC television series on iPlayer), the Mischief Makers Podcast (interview series now on Series 9), Learn With Mischief (secondary school education programme with six comedy workshops), professional workshops for performers, an official merchandise shop, and show licensing services for professional and amateur productions worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Play That Goes Wrong Multi-award winning comedy play about a fictional drama society attempting to stage a 1920s murder mystery, where everything goes catastrophically wrong on stage. Currently in its 11th year at the Duchess Theatre, London, and on long-running run in New York.
• The Comedy About Spies Espionage comedy set at the Piccadilly Hotel where American and Soviet spies descend to track a rogue agent. Currently showing at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End.
• Christmas Carol Goes Wrong Mischief's take on Dickens' A Christmas Carol, currently touring the UK and at the West End, with productions planned for Los Angeles and Australia.
• Thespians Mischief's first musical, set in ancient Greece in 534 BC about Thespis and his sister Poly competing in a deadly prayer competition. Currently on UK tour.
• Peter Pan Goes Wrong Comedy adaptation of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan featuring the accident-prone Cornley Drama Society, available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and as a licensed script.
• The Comedy About A Bank Robbery Comedy about a heist at a Minnesota bank in 1959; one of Mischief's West End catalogue productions.
• Magic Goes Wrong Mischief production combining comedy with magic, following the Goes Wrong series tradition.
• Groan Ups Comedy exploring what happens when the Comedy Bunker gang leave school and face the real world; one of Mischief's West End catalogue productions.
• Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle Comedy about a hapless mind reader attempting to conduct a séance, currently available as a published script for licensing.
• The Goes Wrong Show BBC television series adaptation featuring comedic disasters, available on BBC iPlayer with two seasons released.
• Mischief Makers Podcast Podcast series hosted by Chris Lanceley and Dave Hearn, featuring interviews with cast, crew, and creative teams behind Mischief productions; currently on Series 9.
• Learn With Mischief Secondary school education programme teaching comedy disciplines through six workshops covering Introduction to Comedy, Ensemble, Slapstick, Clowning, Farce, and Improvising; includes downloadable resources and video content.
• Mischief Workshops

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10 years continuous West End presence
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Kenny Wax LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading West End and touring production company. Kenny Wax Ltd produces Mischief shows including Christmas Carol Goes Wrong and is described as one of the leading production companies operating in the West End.
• Concord TheatricalscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial licensing partner for USA and Canada handling performance rights for Mischief comedies to professionals, amateurs, and schools. Contact: 250 W. 57th Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10107-0102.
• LW TheatrescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperator of the Adelphi Theatre where The Comedy About Spies is currently running. Handles group bookings and individual ticket sales for the production.
• Nimax TheatrescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperator of the Duchess Theatre where The Play That Goes Wrong has been running in the West End.
• Stage PresencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of The Comedy About Spies in association with Jo Danvers.
• Center Theatre GroupmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLA-based theatre company producing Christmas Carol Goes Wrong at the Ahmanson Theatre for 2026-27 season.
• BBCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcast partner for The Goes Wrong Show television series and Christmas specials. Episodes available on BBC iPlayer.
• Home Manchester, Mercury Theatre Colchester & JPT ProductionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producers of Thespians musical with HOME Manchester, Mercury Theatre Colchester and JPT Productions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Punchdrunk: UK-based immersive and physical theatre company producing large-scale experiential shows — comparable to Mischief as a fellow UK physical-theatre innovator pushing boundaries of staged audience experience, though with very different narrative style.
• Stomp: Touring physical-theatre show built on ensemble percussion and slapstick — directly comparable as a long-running, internationally touring wordless/physical comedy production with a similar audience profile.
• iO Theater: Long-running improv comedy theatre with resident shows, training programmes, and a global training brand — comparable to Mischief in improv-led comedy training (workshops/courses) and resident theatrical performances.
• Reduced Shakespeare Company: Long-running comedy theatre troupe that tours abbreviated, comedic adaptations of classic works — directly comparable to Mischief in genre (comedy), format (ensemble physical comedy), and touring-based monetization model.
• Blue Man Group: Performance ensemble producing highly visual, slapstick-driven live comedy across permanent and touring productions — closely comparable to Mischief in physical comedy style, multi-territory residency model, and merchandise-driven fan ecosystem.
• Second City: Iconic improv comedy theatre company running resident troupes and touring ensembles — comparable to Mischief in comedy methodology (improv, ensemble), training/workshop business, and theatrical live-performance format.

Broad incumbents

• Disney Theatrical Group: Global producer and licensor of family-friendly theatrical IP (musicals based on animated films) — comparable to Mischief in family-friendly comedy positioning, global touring, licensing to schools, and merchandise integration, though at vastly greater scale.
• Cirque du Soleil: Global leader in live variety/physical-performance entertainment with multiple touring and resident shows — comparable to Mischief in production structure (touring residencies, IP-led shows, merchandise), though at vastly greater scale and broader category scope.
• Really Useful Group: Andrew Lloyd Webber's theatre production and licensing group producing and licensing stage musicals worldwide — comparable to Mischief in theatre IP production, global licensing activity, and multi-title catalogue approach, though much larger and musical-focused.

Others

• Concord Theatricals: Major play and musical licensing house that already represents Mischief in USA/Canada — relevant as both a current distribution partner and an adjacent comparable showing how theatrical IP licensing scales commercially at industry level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mischiefcomedy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MischiefTheatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/MischiefTheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/mischiefcomedy
• TikToktiktok.com/@mischiefcomedy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mischief-theatre-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MISCHIEF THEATRE LIMITED