The Comedy About Spies - Paperback

by Henry Lewis (Author), Henry Shields (Author)

Winner of Best New Play at the WhatsOnStage Awards 2026
Nominated for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play at the Olivier Awards 2026

LAUGHTER IS THEIR ONLY WEAPON

Brace yourself for hilarious mayhem and a not-so-secret mission with Mischief's newest action-packed adventure The Comedy About Spies.

When a rogue British agent pilfers plans for a top-secret weapon, CIA and KGB spies converge on London's Piccadilly Hotel in pursuit of the elusive file. Add to the mix a clueless young couple, a hapless actor angling for the role of James Bond, and enough double agents to confuse even the sharpest operative, and you've got a mission that's hilariously out of control.

Mischief, the multi award-winning company behind The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, bring an uproarious 1960's spy escapade, bursting with bungled missions, tangled identities, and miscommunication that's anything but covert.

This edition was published to coincide with the West End premiere in April 2025.

Author Biography

Henry Shields is an award-winning playwright, best known for his work with Mischief. Co-writer of The Comedy About Spies, he looks forward to returning to the stage in one of the leading roles in 2025. He has been nominated for three Olivier Awards for Best New Comedy, winning in 2015 for The Play That Goes Wrong. Stage Credits Include: The Play That Goes Wrong (West End & Broadway); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (West End & Broadway); The Comedy About a Bank Robbery; Groan Ups; Magic Goes Wrong; Light! Camera! Improvise and Mischief Movie Night.

Screen Credits Include: Holby City (BBC); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (BBC); A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (BBC); both series of The Goes Wrong Show (which he co-wrote) and Keep It In The Family (ITV).

Henry Lewis is an Olivier Award and Drama Desk Award winning writer, actor, director and producer and is the Artistic Director of Mischief. Henry's work has been produced in over 50 countries worldwide. Broadway Theatre Credits include: The Play That Goes Wrong (Lyceum); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Ethel Barrymore). West End Credits Include: Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle (Prince of Wales/Garrick); Magic Goes Wrong (Apollo/Vaudeville); Groan Ups (Vaudeville); Mischief Movie Night (Vaudeville/Arts); The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (Criterion); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Apollo); The Play that Goes Wrong (Duchess & UK/International Tour); Austentatious (Arts).

Off West End/Off Broadway/Regional Theatre Credits Include: Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Ahmanson, Los Angeles); Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle (Off Broadway/UK Tour); Good Luck, Studio (UK Tour - as director); Mercury Fur (Trafalgar Studios); The Play That Goes Wrong (UK/International Tour); Superior Donuts (Southwark Playhouse - as producer); Beasts & Beauties (Hampstead); Showstopper! The Improvised Musical (various). Live Streamed: Mischief Movie Night-In (Immersive LDN/Riverside Studios).

Screen Credits Include: The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (Apple+); Riddiculous (ITV); The Valiant Quest of Prince Ivandoe (Cartoon Network); The Goes Wrong Show (BBC); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (BBC); A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (BBC); Royal Variety Performance 2015 & 2019 (ITV); We are Most Amused and Amazed: Prince Charles' 70th Birthday Celebration (ITV); Children in Need 2020 (BBC) and Comic Relief 2022 (BBC).

Henry's first book Mystery Agency: The Museum Heist is available now.