In 2013, Mischief Theatre's The Play That Goes Wrong opened at London's Old Red Lion to just 12 people. A year later, the comedy played to an audience of over 1100 and is now embarking on an extensive UK tour.

Co-written by company members Jonathan Sayer, Henry Lewis and Henry Shields, The Play … is about a university drama society who stage a murder mystery, only to find that nothing goes according to plan. Influenced by Lecoq clowning and silent comedies, and with two hit West End runs and a sell-out stint at last year's Edinburgh Fringe, it's been an overwhelming success with audiences.

'The idea of being mortifiedly embarrassed in front of a huge number of people is something that everyone can relate to,' says Sayer, 'so the jokes land quickly and the play resonates. I think everyone has had that feeling where they want the ground to open up and swallow them, so they get on side with the characters in the play.'

And with The Nativity Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong in their catalogue too, Mischief Theatre may have a franchise on their hands. 'Right now,' says Sayer, 'I'm just focused on the one we are doing and making sure it’s as good as it possibly can be.'

King's Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 10–Sat 15 Mar