Christmas Carol Goes Wrong: Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer join West End cast for January

Two of the people who dreamed up the Cornley Amateur Drama Society are stepping back on stage. Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer, Mischief originals and co-writers of the Goes Wrong shows, will join the West End cast of Christmas Carol Goes Wrong at Wyndham's Theatre for two weeks only, from 14 to 23 January 2027. Book Christmas Carol Goes Wrong tickets for the January dates.

The pair will reprise the roles they originated in last year's production: Lewis returns as Robert and Sayer as Dennis. An extra matinee has been added on Wednesday 20 January 2027 to meet demand for the fortnight.

The news follows the pair's recent run in the US, and it gives London theatregoers a rare chance to see the writers inside their own chaos during the final fortnight of the festive season.

Who joins the cast in January?

Lewis and Sayer take over two of the central Cornley roles for the closing fortnight. Lewis plays Robert, the pompous, easily wounded member of the society, while Sayer plays Dennis, whose struggle to remember his lines has become a Goes Wrong trademark. Both were part of the troupe that created The Play That Goes Wrong more than a decade ago, and both have played these characters on stage before.

Alongside them, Dave Hearn, another Mischief original and a familiar face from the BBC series The Goes Wrong Show, continues as Max until 23 January.

Who plays the roles before then?

From the start of the run on 18 December 2026, James Akka plays Dennis and Matthew Howell plays Robert, both until 13 January. The rest of the West End cast is Adam Elliott as Chris, Luke Pierre as Jonathan, Aein Nasseri as Trevor, Dumile Sibanda as Annie and Ashley Tucker as Sandra.

The understudies are Billie Hamer, Robert Lane, Claire Lee Shenfield, Jamie Sandersfield and Josh Patel-Foster. You can see several of them at work in our rehearsal photos from the new London season.

What is the show about?

Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, the comedy follows the hapless Cornley Amateur Drama Society as they attempt to stage Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. The crew battle miscommunication, delays to their set, actors missing in action and a growing feud over who will play the lead. Needless to say, it does not go to plan.

The production played to sold-out houses at the Apollo Theatre last year, with The Guardian calling it "a Dickensian disaster to savour". It returns to the West End for a limited six-week run.

Who is behind the production?

Matt DiCarlo directs, with set design by Libby Todd, costumes by Roberto Surace, lighting by David Howe, and sound design and music by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite. The West End season is produced by Kenny Wax and Stage Presence.

How long is the run?

The show plays at Wyndham's Theatre on Charing Cross Road from 18 December 2026 to 23 January 2027. That means the fortnight with Lewis and Sayer is also the final stretch of the London season, so the closing dates are likely to be the most sought after.

The running time is around 2 hours 20 minutes including an interval, and the show is recommended for ages 8 and over, which makes it a strong choice for a family trip in the new year as well as over Christmas.

Why are these dates worth booking?

Seeing the writers perform their own material is a treat for Goes Wrong fans. Lewis and Sayer have spent years building the Cornley world, from the stage to television, and their timing in these roles is part of what made the shows such a hit. With only two weeks of performances and a single added matinee, the January dates offer limited availability for anyone hoping to catch them.

If you love the format, the long-running original is still playing in the West End too. Read more about The Play That Goes Wrong booking into January 2028.

Header image: official artwork