Inside No 9: Stage Fright – Review – Hull New Theatre

By Roger Crow, October 2025

Despite a hugely successful run in the West End, I have no idea what to expect from Stage Fright, the live version of Inside No 9.

That BBC anthology series, written and starring Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, has been that rarest of things for a decade: a cult success that’s also gone down a storm with the critics.

Could the duo make the show work on stage, or would the usual format run out of steam?

Well, safe to say there were more bright ideas and great gags than nine average shows. And this was far from average. Yes, it does owe a debt to one of their greatest episodes, but the intro set in a theatre is a fresh twist on a well-worn pre-show warning.

Then we’re into more familiar territory involving THAT story which fans will nod wisely to as it unfolds. There’s also a glorified sketch involving a couple of kidnappers and a showbiz legend, the secret identity of which (Tommy Cannon) quite rightly led to deafening applause. It was an emotional time for Tommy as he’d last played Hull New Theatre with the much-missed Bobby Ball, and the recitation of their beloved theme and a tribute to Bobby ensured there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

“One of the best theatre experiences”

As things unfolded, a perfect mix of chills, thrills and laugh-out-loud funny gags were so well engineered, it was a marvel to behold. And yes, some of the gags got lost because they were so quick fire, but it scarcely mattered. Reece was having a ball on home turf, as was Steve. A few years ago they had given a fascinating talk down the road to promote their Inside No 9 book, and I’m guessing every fan that saw that show was at Hull New Theatre, revelling in their debut night.

And yes, all the seats had sold out, as they have for most of the week. There weren’t even press tickets, so I had to buy my own, which wasn’t a problem because this multi-layered spookfest was worth every penny.

Whether you’re a fan of the show or not, this is one of the best theatre experiences you’ll have in this or any other year, and the fact, and the attention to detail was extraordinary.

The phrase ‘Comedy Genius’ is bandied around with alarming regularity, but given their body of work over the years, Steve and Reece can quite happily take that label, and the fact they end on such an old school showbiz high note is an added bonus.

And kudos to the supporting cast too who never miss a beat.

Verdict? 9/10, naturally.

Roger Crow( Writer )

Adopted Yorkshireman Roger Crow developed a passion for film and TV in the 1970s and 1980s. He has been a published film and TV reviewer since the 1990s; a world travel and restaurant critic since the noughties, and for the past decade has assessed the pros and cons of live gigs and theatre productions around the UK. His ideal day would involve reviewing a performance of Bat Out of Hell, followed by a Pad Thai while being serenaded by Texas on a cruise around Europe.
crowsfeat.com; nostalgiahhh film podcast

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