The Crown Jewels new West End comedy star Al Murray, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Joe Thomas, Mel Giedroyc, Neil Morrissey

A major new West End comedy is coming to London this year.

The Crown Jewels is written by award-winning TV and stage writer Simon Nye (Men Behaving Badly, The Durrells) and is coming to the Garrick Theatre from July 2023.

An all star cast will be led by comedian and actor Al Murray (Al Murray The Pub Landlord) as King Charles II, with West End star Carrie Hope Fletcher (Cinderella), Joe Thomas (The Inbetweeners), Mel Giedroyc (Company, The Great British Bake Off), and Neil Morrissey (Men Behaving Badly, The Good Karma Hospital, Line of Duty).

The show also stars Aidan McArdle (Jane Eyre, Mr Selfridge) and Tanvi Virmani (Life of Pi), with additional casting to be announced.

The comedy is directed by multi Olivier Award winner Sean Foley (The Upstart Crow, Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical).

Following its run at the Garrick Theatre in London, the show plans to tour the UK, including The Lowry Salford from 18 to 23 September, the Marlowe Theatre Canterbury from 25 to 30 September, and the New Theatre Cardiff from 2 to 7 October, and with more dates to follow.

This riotous new play is based on the incredible true story of how charismatic and unpredictable Colonel Blood planned the greatest heist of all time – stealing the Crown Jewels of Charles II in plain sight! With a gang of misfits by his side, what could possibly go wrong?

The comedy is produced by Simon Friend in association with Adam Kenwright, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, Jenny King, Gavin Kalin, David Adkin and JAS Productions. Simon Friend are currently producing The Life of Pi on Broadway and recently produced the play at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London. Their other recent productions include the stage adaptations of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Da Vinci Code, and a forthcoming movie adaptation of hit play Clybourne Park.

The Crown Jewels is playing at the Garrick Theatre from 7 July to 16 September 2023.

The Quotes

Writer Simon Nye said: “I hope audiences will be as titillated and thrilled as I am at the prospect of a riotous comedy-drama about a crown jewels heist that really happened. True crime comes to the West End, 350 years after the event. The cast is an amazing array of comedy talent, and the subject matter absurdly topical. Satire, sword-fighting, love, violence, an examination of the monarchy and Anglo-Irish relations – could you ask for anything more?”

Director Sean Foley said: “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to direct Simon Nye’s hilarious new play. An entirely modern take on the Restoration Comedy, it transports us to a completely different time – a time when England had a new king…whose name was Charles. I’m excited to be working with our brilliant cast, and we all hope to thoroughly entertain audiences in one of my favourite theatres – the Garrick – over this Coronation summer.”

Producer Simon Friend said: “The Crown Jewels came out of a mad idea that Simon Nye and I cooked up during lockdown, fantasising about shows we could make if theatres were to ever reopen. We’re incredibly lucky that such a talented cast, with Sean as director, have gathered around for this hilarious play about a famous heist that went awry, and we look forward to bringing some laughter to the West End this summer.”