The Upstart Crow Tickets

To write or not to write? That is the question for William Shakespeare in The Upstart Crow. David Mitchell and Gemma Whelan star in the West End Shakespeare comedy. The Upstart Crow tickets are available on London Theatre now.

The Upstart Crow started out as a television series originally commissioned by the BBC for the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death. The show’s title came from Robert Greene’s critique of the Bard and 16th-century writers — Grenne considered Shakespeare to be an “upstart Crow, beautified with our feathers.”

David Mitchell portrayed the Bard in The Upstart Crow in all three series. The television series featured beloved British comics and actors: Liza Tarbuck played Anne Hathaway, Harry Enfield played John Shakespeare, as well as guest appearances from Kenneth Branagh, Noel Fielding, Emma Thompson and Ben Miller.

All the episode titles referenced Shakespeare plays: “Sigh No More” for Much ado About Nothing, “Food of Love” for Twelfth Night, and “The Green-Eyed Monster” for Othello to name a few.

The Upstart Crow play continues the self-referential Shakespeare jokes, but continues the storyline. The Upstart Crow audiences meet Shakespeare in 1605. England’s greatest playwright now suffers from writer’s block. He needs to create a hit play to bring audiences back and avoid being cast aside. After advice from close friends (and enemies) on what to write, he can't work out whether to write for King and country, or from the heart. Can he write again?

It's not all about Shakespeare in The Upstart Crow. There's star-crossed lovers, Elizabethan costumes, and 21st-century commentary about public transportation. That's down to Ben Elton who adapts The Upstart Crow for the stage. Elton injects a healthy dose of British humour into the production, honouring the original series as well as the West End. In a London Theatre review, we said: “the clear, unfaltering appreciation for theatre and live entertainment is the beating heart of The Upstart Crow.”

Who is David Mitchell?

David Mitchell plays William Shakespeare in The Upstart Crow. The British actor, writer, and comedian is best known as one half of the comedy duo Mitchell and Webb, comprised of David Mitchell and Robert Webb. Alongside Webb, the pair created television series such as Peep Show and That Mitchell and Webb Look. Mitchell also serves as a team captain on Would I Lie to You? alongside Lee Mack and Rob Brydon. David Mitchell makes his West End debut in The Upstart Crow.

How long is The Upstart Crow?

The Upstart Crow play runs for 2 hours, including a 15 minute interval. The Upstart Crow matinee performances begin at 2:30pm and evening performances begin at 7:30pm.

Tickets to The Upstart Crow are available now. Book your The Upstart Crow tickets on London Theatre today.