Henry Lewis (playwright)

{{Infobox person

| name = Henry Lewis

| image = HenryLewis.jpg

| caption = Lewis in 2022

| birth_name = Henry William Lewis

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1988|11|21}}

| birth_place = Slough, Berkshire, England

| education = London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor - Writer - Director - Producer - Presenter}}

| years_active = 2008–present

}}

Henry William Lewis (born 21 November 1988) is a British actor and playwright. He co-founded Mischief Theatre, responsible for The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, The Comedy About Spies Groan Ups, Magic Goes Wrong, Mind Mangler and The Goes Wrong Show, and co-hosts Riddiculous, an ITV daytime game show.

Career

File:Apollo Theatre, February 2022, Magic Goes Wrong.jpg

In 2008, Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields co-founded Mischief Theatre while they were studying a drama foundation course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.mischiefcomedy.com/about-us/what-we-do/ |access-date=7 July 2015 |website=Mischief Theatre}}

In 2012, Lewis co-wrote with Sayer and Shields The Play That Goes Wrong,{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Tim |date=18 September 2014 |title=The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre, review: 'delightful' |work=Telegraph.co.uk |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/11106181/The-Play-That-Goes-Wrong-Duchess-Theatre-review-delightful.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 November 2022}} which premiered later that year at The Old Red Lion, Islington.{{Cite web |date=17 October 2014 |title=The Play That Goes Wrong proves right for West End |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/oct/17/the-play-that-goes-wrong-west-end-hit |access-date=9 November 2022 |website=The Guardian}} Lewis played Robert Grove in both the original London cast{{Cite journal |date=10-23 September 2014 |title=The Play That Goes Wrong |url=http://www.theatrerecord.com |journal=Theatre Record |pages=916}} and the original Broadway cast.{{Cite web |title=The Play That Goes Wrong Original Broadway Play Cast 2017 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/shows/The-Play-That-Goes-Wrong-331744/cast |access-date=10 May 2022 |website=BroadwayWorld}} In 2013, another Lewis, Sayer and Shields production, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, premiered at The Pleasance Theatre.{{Cite web |title=REVIEW: Peter Pan Goes Wrong at The Alexandra |url=https://www.blackcountryradio.co.uk/blogs/theatre/post/review-peter-pan-goes-wrong-at-the-alexandra/ |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=Black Country Radio}} with Lewis amongst its original cast, playing Robert.{{Cite web |title=Henry Lewis |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/henry_lewis/ |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=British Comedy Guide}}

In 2016, Lewis', Sayer's and Shields' play The Comedy About a Bank Robbery opened at the Criterion Theatre; Lewis was amongst its original cast, and played Robin Freeboys.{{Cite web |title=Theatre review: The Comedy About a Bank Robbery at Criterion Theatre |date=31 March 2016 |url=https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/the-comedy-abou-criterion-12800 |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=British Theatre Guide}} In August 2019, Magic Goes Wrong, a play written by Lewis, Sayer, Shields, Penn and Teller, premiered at the Quays Theatre; Lewis played Mind Mangler,{{Cite web |title=Magic Goes Wrong on stage in London from 21 October 2021 |url=https://www.thisistheatre.com/londonshows/magicgoeswrong.html |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=Thisistheatre.com}} and subsequently took him on tour.{{Cite web |date=13 August 2022 |title=Mind Mangler review – Magic Goes Wrong spin-off is all fun and mind games |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/aug/13/mind-mangler-review-pleasance-courtyard-edinburgh-mischief-theatre-magic-goes-wrong |access-date=9 November 2022 |website=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |title=Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle review |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/mind-mangler-member-of-the-tragic-circle-review-pleasance-courtyard-edinburgh-from-henry-lewis |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=The Stage}} In September 2019, the next Lewis, Sayer and Shields play, Groan Ups, premiered at Vaudeville Theatre, as part of a projected year-long residency at the theatre (later curtailed due to COVID-19 restrictions{{Cite web |title=Mischief's Magic Goes Wrong, The Play That Goes Wrong, and Groan Ups Will Tour U.K. |url=https://playbill.com/article/mischiefs-magic-goes-wrong-the-play-that-goes-wrong-and-groan-ups-will-tour-uk |website=Playbill}}),{{Cite web |title=A Look at Mischief Theatre's Groan Ups in the West End |url=https://playbill.com/article/a-look-at-mischief-theatres-groan-ups-in-the-west-end |website=Playbill}} with Lewis playing Spencer.{{Cite web |title='Groan Ups' review |date=11 October 2019 |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/groan-ups-review |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=Time Out}} In 2020, Lewis launched The Mystery Agency, an escape-room style puzzle game, on Kickstarter.{{Cite web |title=Feature: Henry Lewis's THE MYSTERY AGENCY Launches On Kickstarter |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BWW-Feature-Mischief-Theatres-THE-MYSTERY-AGENCY-Launches-On-Kickstarter-20200819 |access-date=10 November 2022 |publisher=Broadwayworld.com}}

In 2016, a production of Peter Pan Goes Wrong was aired by BBC1, with Lewis playing Robert.{{Cite web |title=Peter Pan Goes Wrong |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b087kcrn |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=BBC1}} The following year, they aired A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, with Lewis playing Robert.{{Cite web |title=A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09kknsy |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=BBC}} BBC1 aired twelve episodes of The Goes Wrong Show{{Cite web |title=The Goes Wrong Show |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000csgs/episodes/guide |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=BBC}} between December 2019{{Cite web |title=The Spirit of Christmas |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000csgq |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=BBC}} and November 2021.{{Cite web |title=The Cornley Drama Festival Part 2 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09t2spg |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=BBC}} In 2022, he started playing the Riddlemaster in Riddiculous, an ITV daytime game show hosted by Ranvir Singh.{{Cite web |date=17 September 2022 |title=First glimpse at Ranvir Singh and Henry Lewis in new ITV game show Riddiculous |url=https://www.lancs.live/news/celebs-tv/first-glimpse-ranvir-singh-henry-25044309 |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=Lancashire Live}}

Television

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

!Ref.

2015

|Royal Variety Performance

|Robert Grove (The Play that Goes Wrong)

|ITV1 (recorded at The Royal Albert Hall)

rowspan="2" |2016

|Keep it in the Family

|Narrator

|ITV1 (1 episode)

Peter Pan Goes Wrong

|Robert Grove

|BBC1 (Christmas Special, also writer)

rowspan="2" |2017

|The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

|Self

|NBC (1 episode)

|{{Citation |title=The Interview That Goes Wrong with J.J. Abrams |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAlfWgSTlDY |access-date=11 April 2023 |language=en}}

A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

|Robert Grove

|BBC1 (Christmas Special, also writer)

2018

|We Are Most Amused & Amazed

|Mind Mangler (Magic Goes Wrong)

|ITV1 (Prince Charles' 70th Birthday Celebrations at The London Palladium)

2019

|Royal Variety Performance

|Spencer (Groan Ups)

|ITV1 (recorded at The London Palladium)

2019–2021

|The Goes Wrong Show

|Robert Grove

|BBC1 (2 series, 12 episodes, also writer)

|{{cite web |title=The Goes Wrong Show (TV Series 2019– ) – IMDb |website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9860664/ |access-date=11 April 2023 |language=en-US}}

2020

|Children in Need

|Robert Grove

|BBC1

2021

|The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe

|Yucky Duck, The Golden Father, The Golden Grandfather, Axel the Giant

|Cartoon Network (3 episodes)

2022

|Comic Relief

|Mind Mangler

|BBC1

2022–present

|Riddiculous

|Self/Riddlemaster

|ITV1 (3 Series, 70 episodes)

|{{cite web |title=Riddiculous (TV Series 2022– ) – IMDb |website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21257646/ |access-date=11 April 2023 |language=en-US}}

rowspan="2" |2024

|The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin

|Baron Von Louth

|Apple TV+ (Episode "The Unrobbable Coach")

Royal Variety Performance

|Agent X (The Comedy About Spies)

|ITV1 (recorded at The Royal Albert Hall)

|{{Cite web |last=Rook |first=Olivia |date=2024-12-11 |title=All the West End shows appearing at the Royal Variety Performance |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/all-the-west-end-shows-appearing-at-the-royal-variety-performance |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=London Theatre |language=en}}

Theatre

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

!Ref.

2010

|Showstopper! The Improvised Musical

|Ensemble

|Greenwich Theatre & Arts Depot

2011

|Beasts & Beauties

|Ensemble & Understudy

|Hampstead Theatre

rowspan="3" |2012

| rowspan="2" |Mercury Fur

| rowspan="2" |Party Guest

|Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington (also producer)

|{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Smith |date=4 June 2012 |title=Mercury Fur, Trafalgar Studios, review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/9310959/Mercury-Fur-Trafalgar-Studios-review.html |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph |url-access=subscription}}

Trafalgar Studios

rowspan="2" |The Play That Goes Wrong

| rowspan="2" |Robert Grove

|Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington (also producer and co-writer with Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)

2013

|Trafalgar Studios

rowspan="3" |2014

|Superior Donuts

| -

|Southwark Playhouse (as producer)

rowspan="2" |The Play That Goes Wrong

| rowspan="2" |Robert Grove

|1st UK & International Tour

Duchess Theatre, West End

2015

|Peter Pan Goes Wrong

|Robert Grove

|Apollo Theatre, West End (also co-writer with Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)

2016

|The Comedy About a Bank Robbery

|Robin Freeboys

|Criterion Theatre, West End (also co-writer with Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)

rowspan="2" |2017

|The Play That Goes Wrong

|Robert Grove

|Lyceum Theater, Broadway

|{{Cite news |last=Paulson |first=Michael |date=23 March 2017 |title=In 'The Play That Goes Wrong,' It's Murder, Strictly for Laughs |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/23/theater/the-play-that-goes-wrong-broadway.html |access-date=28 January 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |url-access=subscription}}

rowspan="2" |Mischief Movie Night

| rowspan="2" |Ensemble & Oscar

|Arts Theatre, West End (also co-creator)

2018

|1st UK Tour

2019

|Groan Ups

|Spencer

|Vaudeville Theatre, West End (also co-writer with Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)

rowspan="3" |2020

|Magic Goes Wrong

|Mind Mangler

|Vaudeville Theatre, West End (also co-writer with Penn and Teller, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)

Mischief Movie Night

| rowspan="2" |Ensemble & Oscar

|UK Tour (Open Air Theatres)

Mischief Movie Night-In

|Live Stream (50 episodes) broadcast from Immersive LDN & Riverside Studios

|{{Cite web |title=Mischief Movie Night In |url=https://riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/mischief-movie-night-in-3020/ |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=Riverside Studios |language=en}}

2021

|Magic Goes Wrong

|Mind Mangler

|Apollo Theatre, West End

rowspan="4" |2022

|Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle

|Mind Mangler

|Pleasance Edinburgh (also co-writer with Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)

Mischief Movie Night

|Ensemble

| rowspan="2" |Pleasance Edinburgh

Starship Improvise

|Frank Brass

Good Luck, Studio

| -

|UK Tour (as director)

|{{Cite web |title=Good Luck, Studio |url=https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/main-house/good-luck-studio/ |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=Wiltshire Creative |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103223709/https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/main-house/good-luck-studio/ |archive-date=3 November 2022}}

rowspan="2" |2022-present

| rowspan="2" |Austentatious

| rowspan="2" |Ensemble

|Arts Theatre, West End

UK Tours

rowspan="5" |2023

| rowspan="2" |Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle

| rowspan="2" |Mind Mangler

|Garrick Theatre & Prince of Wales Theatre, West End

1st UK Tour

rowspan="2" |Peter Pan Goes Wrong

| rowspan="2" |Robert Grove

|Ethel Barrymore Theater, Broadway

|{{Cite news |last=Paulson |first=Michael |date=5 January 2023 |title=British Comedy 'Peter Pan Goes Wrong' Plans Spring Broadway Bow |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/05/theater/peter-pan-goes-wrong-broadway.html |access-date=28 January 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |url-access=subscription}}

Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles

Mind Mangler: A Night of Tragic Illusion

|Mind Mangler

|New World Stages, Off Broadway, New York City

rowspan="4" |2024

| rowspan="2" |Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle

| rowspan="2" |Mind Mangler

|Apollo Theatre, West End

|{{Cite web |title=Mind Mangler Play Tickets - Apollo Theatre London |url=https://www.officialtheatre.com/apollo-theatre/mind-mangler-member-of-the-tragic-circle/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Official Theatre |language=en}}

2nd UK Tour

rowspan="2" |Mischief Movie Night

| rowspan="2" |Ensemble & Oscar

|The Other Palace, West End (also producer)

Live Stream (8 episodes) broadcast from Sadler's Wells

2025

|The Comedy About Spies

|Douglas Woodbead

|Noël Coward Theatre, West End (also co-writer with Henry Shields)

|{{Cite news |last=Gilbey |first=Ryan |date=2025-05-13 |title=The Comedy About Spies review – rapid fire gags in a delightfully silly show |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/may/14/the-comedy-about-spies-review-rapid-fire-gags-in-a-delightfully-silly-show |access-date=2025-05-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Books & Playtexts

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Publisher

rowspan="3" |2013

|The Play that Goes Wrong (One Act Edition)

| rowspan="7" |Methuen

Peter Pan Goes Wrong

The Nativity Goes Wrong

2014

|The Play that Goes Wrong (Two Act Edition)

2016

|The Comedy About A Bank Robbery

2019

|Groan Ups

2020

|The One Act Play that Goes Wrong

2023

|Mystery Agency: The Museum Heist

|Sphere

2024

|Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle

| rowspan="2" |Methuen

rowspan="2" |2025

|The Comedy About Spies

Mystery Agency: The Bookshop Murder

|Sphere

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Award

!Category

!Work

!Result

!Ref

2012

|Off West End Award

|Best Production

|Mercury Fur

|{{nominated}}

2014

|WhatsOnStage Award

| rowspan="3" |Best New Comedy

| rowspan="2" |The Play That Goes Wrong

|{{won}}

|{{Cite news |date=23 February 2014 |title=Full List: Winners of the 2014 WhatsOnStage Awards |work=WhatsOnStage.com |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/bath-theatre/news/full-list-winners-of-the-2014-whatsonstage-awards_33594.html}}

2015

|Laurence Olivier Award

|{{won}}

|{{Cite web |title=Olivier Winners 2015 |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-2015/ |access-date=12 January 2023 |website=Olivier Awards}}

rowspan="2" |2016

|Laurence Olivier Award

|Peter Pan Goes Wrong

|{{nominated}}

|{{Cite web |title=Olivier Winners 2016 |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-2016/ |access-date=12 January 2023 |website=Olivier Awards}}

Molière Award

|Best Comedy

|The Play That Goes Wrong

|{{won}}

rowspan="4" |2017

|Laurence Olivier Award

|Best New Comedy

|The Comedy About a Bank Robbery

|{{nominated}}

|{{Cite web |title=Olivier Winners 2017 |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-2017/ |access-date=12 January 2023 |website=Olivier Awards}}

Drama League Award

|Best Play

|The Play That Goes Wrong

|{{nominated}}

|{{Cite web |title=Dear Evan Hansen's Ben Platt, Hello, Dolly! and More Are Winners of Drama League Awards |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/dear-evan-hansens-ben-platt-hello-dolly-and-more-are-winners-of-drama-league-awards |access-date=12 January 2023 |website=Playbill}}

Molière Award

|Best Comedy

|The Comedy About a Bank Robbery

Broadway.com Audience Choice Award

|Favorite New Play

|The Play That Goes Wrong

|{{nominated}}

2018

|Laurence Olivier Award

|Best New Comedy

|Mischief Movie Night

|{{nominated}}

|{{Cite web |title=Olivier Awards 2018 |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/2018/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Olivier Awards |language=en-GB}}

rowspan="2" |2020

|TV Choice Awards

|Best New Comedy

|The Goes Wrong Show

|{{nominated}}

Laurence Olivier Award

|Best New Comedy

| rowspan="3" |Magic Goes Wrong

|{{nom}}

|{{Cite web |title=Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard – Theatre's Biggest Night |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2020/ |access-date=11 April 2023 |website=Olivier Awards |language=en-GB}}

rowspan="4" |2022

| rowspan="3" |WhatsOnStage Award

|Best New Play

|{{nominated}}

Best Performer in a Male Identifying Role in a Play

|{{nominated}}

Best West End Show

|The Play That Goes Wrong

|{{nominated}}

TV Choice Awards

|Best Comedy Performance

|The Goes Wrong Show

|{{nominated}}

rowspan="4" |2023

|Outer Critics Circle Awards

|Outstanding New Broadway Play

| rowspan="4" |Peter Pan Goes Wrong

|{{nominated}}

Broadway.com Audience Choice Award

|Favorite New Play

|{{won}}

|{{Cite web |title=Into the Woods Tops Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Winners |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/203236/into-the-woods-tops-broadwaycom-audience-choice-award-winners/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Broadway.com |language=en}}

Drama Desk Award

|Unique Theatrical Experience

|{{won}}

|{{Cite web |last=Considine |first=Allison |date=2023-05-31 |title=2023 Drama Desk Award winners announced |url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/2023-drama-desk-awards-announced |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=New York Theatre Guide |language=en}}

Drama League Award

|Outstanding Production of a Play

|{{nominated}}

|{{Cite web |date=3 November 2022 |title=2023 Awards - The Drama League |url=https://dramaleague.org/2023-awards/ |access-date=12 January 2024 |website=dramaleague.org |language=en-US}}

2024

|Off Broadway Alliance Awards

|Unique Theatrical Experience

|Mind Mangler: A Night of Tragic Illusion