Inside Number 9 is the hit TV anthology show starring Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton that has since transitioned into a hit West End show. The show, which is subtitled Stage Fright is now touring theatres across the UK, and I was able to see the show at Milton Keynes Theatre this week.
As an anthology show, the TV version had new characters and stories in every episode, with the only continuing through line being that the setting would be inside something which was labelled as ‘number 9’. This could be house number nine, ward number 9, car number 9, classroom number 9 etc.
When adapting the show to stage, this theme continues, although unlike the thirty minute format of the TV show, the stage show lasts around two hours and within this keeps the anthology aspect going with several distinct sections which each have unrelated characters and stories.
Directed by Simon Evans, Inside Number 9 Stage Fright is a mix of fan service for fans of the TV show, and some brand new stories. I first saw Stage Fright during it’s run in the West End earlier in the year, and upon that first viewing I was initially disappointed to see that they were revisiting some characters and scripts from the TV show, as it gave the impression that the show would just be them playing some of their greatest hits on stage.
I’m pleased to say I was wrong about this.
Light Spoiler Warning
As a warning, I’ll go into some very light spoilers for the plot just to be able to discuss some aspects of the show, but as Inside Number 9 is all about plot twists, I’ll refrain from any heavy spoilers without proper warning.
As a side note, you can read by heavy spoilers review from the West End run at this link, and you can also read my Inside Number 9 Stage Fright Ending Explained article here.
The show can be divided into about eight or nine segments, depending on how you view them. The show opens with a scene set in a theatre auditorium, with the number nine in question being seat number 9. From here we have a more formal introduction to the show with Shearsmith and Pemberton directly addressing the audience. In this section, they speak about ‘Bloody Belle’ who is a ghost who is said to haunt the theatre, and they introduce the other major connection between the stories and that is a lamp that is ever present on the stage which is said to appease ghosts.
This leads into the biggest scenario for act one, which is a near word for word recreation of the TV episode Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room, which is commonly remembered as the Cheese and Crackers episode where they play a former comedy double act in the Two Ronnies/Morcombe and Wise mould who are reuniting after twenty to thirty years.
This was always one of my favourite episodes, so whilst I was initially disappointed to see it as I’d hoped for something truly new compared to the TV show, it’s inclusion in the stage show is relevant and works for many reasons, not least because after nine years on TV, Stage Fright is (allegedly) something of a final get together for Pemberton and Shearsmith in the world of Inside Number 9, much like the story is the last hurrah of Cheese and Crackers.
Unusually for Inside Number 9, we then get something of a story within a story, as the Cheese and Crackers story is put aside for another story based on the criminal characters in black balaclavas they played in the first series of the TV show. After this scene, they do continue and wrap up the Cheese and Crackers story.
Act 2 starts with the story of the Terror in the Asylum about a mad doctor, and this leads onto two more sequences which are somewhat connected without being an absolute break in the story. This is interesting for Inside Number 9 which traditionally has completely separated and non serialised storytelling.
The ending, brings us back to Shearsmith and Pemberton as themselves in a way that is satisfying and works to tie together a lot of the stories and themes seen throughout the show.
Inside Number 9 has always been known as a show with horror elements. Not every episode, but often enough that audience going into a show called Stage Fright can understandably expect some spooky goings on. The show does deliver on this and whilst its much more comedy than horror, there are some nice scary and tense moments that work perfectly alongside the humour.
As a comedy, the laughs start immediately and come thick and fast throughout. Inside Number 9 always did a great job of balancing laughs with more poignant moments and big plot twists with horror and darker themes.
One of the col ideas that have put into the show is that every performance will feature a different celebrity guest who the criminals will kidnap. The performance I saw in London had comedian Dara O’Brien, and in Milton Keynes it had actor Kevin Whately who is best known as playing Inspector Lewis in the show Inspector Morse. This section of the show gives the vibe of being somewhat improvised, but to what degree this is, is something I questioned after the London show. At Milton Keynes Theatre, it still came across as being semi-improvised, but it clearly followed the exact same beats.
Even though I had seen the show before, I’m pleased to say that some of the effects and clever ideas in the show still impressed even though many of them were fresh enough on my mind to remember.
If you are a fan of the show, I’d say the touring production is a must to see if you haven’t seen it in the West End. If you’re new to the world of Inside Number 9, I’d still say that the show is a lot of fun with dark humour and plenty of thrills.
One thing that I did note after seeing the show in London is that it wasn’t quite as standalone as I had expected it to be. Prior knowledge of the show will certainly give you more out of it than if you are completely uninitiated, but it isn’t reliant on you seeing the TV show first.
Conclusion
Inside Number 9 Stage Fright is a really funny show that is quite unlike anything else you’re likely to find on stage and is fun and thrilling from top to tail. I’d certainly recommend you see it if you’re able to.
I’ve seen the show both in London and Milton Keynes, but may catch it again in the future. Other locations it’ll be playing at includes Woking New Victoria, Liverpool Empire,Hull New Theatre, the Edinburgh Playhouse and Oxford New Theatre until early November 2025.
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