Thespians - Greece the Musical

Jonathan Sayer (book, lyrics), Ed Zanders (music, lyrics)

Mischief Theatre, HOME Manchester, Mercury Colchester, JPT Productions

HOME Manchester

July 7-18, 2026; 2hrs 40mins

The Gods look down and invent theatre comedy in Thespians

As the auditorium at HOME fills for Thespians, Greek music immediately lifts the spirits, and they remain high throughout this pun-fuelled, refreshingly joyful show.

Created by Mischief, whose Goes Wrong shows have delighted audiences with actors’ idiosyncrasies for years, here co-writers and lyricists Jonathan Sayer and Ed Zanders cleverly trace those eccentricities back to Ancient Greece, where a drought has taken hold.

Under the beautifully-measured camp tyranny of Rhys Taylor, all citizens must compete in a Eurovision-style prayer contest in Athens to make it rain. The five friends, and sole inhabitants of the island of Ikaria, know they must do something extraordinary. When Thespis unveils his idea to "step into someone else’s sandals", the art of acting is born. Their dippy repartee flows into a hilarious thespian warm-up featuring 5th Century BC Zip Zap Boing, trust exercises and tongue twisters.

Claire-Marie Hall is touching and vocally superb as the resourceful Polly, while Luke Latchman has an endearing gift for playing the naïve, lovesick Atlas. James Spence is heroic and ambitious as Thespis, and Mia Jerome is excellent as the Soothsayer Melampus, whose absurd visions reduced me to hysterics, while her magnificent Dead Man Tango is a belly-laugh spoof of Kander and Ebb's Cell Block Tango from Chicago.

Marc Pickering's comic genius as Adonis elevates the sophisticated slapstick to another level, brilliantly supported by the gifted chorus - of two, Matt Cavendish as Bard and Allie Dart as Rhapsodes. Though the cast numbers just 11, you would be forgiven for thinking there are many more, and Mischief rightly acknowledges both their chorus line and "thunderstudies".

The script sparkles with witty dialogue and clever rhyming lyrics that propel the story. With affectionate nods to Cats and Sondheim, the score balances heartfelt solos, infectious ensemble numbers and Broadway-style showstoppers.

Robyn Grant's confident direction is packed with detail, maintaining pace, with only a slight lull in Act Two. Melody Sinclair-Marsh's choreography is wonderfully dynamic and witty, perfectly capturing each character's nuanced physicality. Jasmine Swan's evocative, transformative set is beautifully lit by David Howe.

Finally, credit also to musical director Ben Smith and his elegant band, nestled among the Doric columns, proving that four accomplished musicians, enhanced by Nick Lodge's finely-balanced sound design, can make a great evening.

Thespians is a comedy built on wit, timing and meticulous craft rather than cheap laughs, demonstrating why Mischief is one of Britain's finest theatre companies. This is a terrific family show, with the heart-warming life message of Rule 82: "never leave a friend behind".

More info and tickets here