The Play That Goes Wrong cast members Tom Wainwright (Max) and Charlotte Scott (Sandra) talk about mishaps, mayhem and their favourite places in London.
For anyone who hasn’t seen it yet, how do you describe The Play That Goes Wrong in a sentence or two (without giving away too much)?
Tom: A murder mystery put on by an amateur dramatics company, that hopefully goes very well!
Charlotte: It does what it says on the tin really, it’s a murder mystery where everything that could go wrong does – and more!!! So much so that I’ve had friends ask me if I’m ok after the show.
What’s the biggest challenge of performing comedy where the “mistakes” must be precise?
Charlotte: Tom Wainwright!! No, Just kidding. I think it’s making everything look authentic although it’s very precisely rehearsed! And then making it look authentic eight times a week.
Tom: Ignoring Charlotte’s insult… the biggest challenge, for my character, is not getting distracted by the audience! If they are doing funny things – I’ll be focusing on them and not my job!
Do you have a particular moment in the show that reliably gets the biggest reaction, either a gag you love or one that still surprises you?
Charlotte: My favourite is what we call the window lift (there’s a photo of it outside the theatre so I don’t think it’s a spoiler!) I get unceremoniously pulled through the window and it always gets a great reaction. It’s actually the reason I wanted to play this part as I thought it was hilarious!
Tom: I absolutely love my entrance. It’s quite an explosive start to the play for my Character Max, and I get to instantly interact with the audience, which lets me know what type of crowd are in, what sort of night we are going to have.
What’s the one thing you’re most proud of about this production, and why do you think it has endured for audiences?
Charlotte: I think it’s because it speaks to our inner child. We love laughing at silly things and it really taps into that (this is Charlotte’s answer, Tom wanted to steal it, don’t let him!!!)
Tom: I am so proud to be a part of this show’s history, and a member of this current cast, but we also are super lucky in that we get to raise money for charity most weeks and our audiences are so generous, they’ve made a huge difference!
What’s one thing every visitor should do in London at least once?
Tom: I’m a foodie, and I know this can be seen as a tourist trap, and it IS busy…. But you need to set aside two hours to shuffle around Borough Market. British cuisine is fantastic (despite its reputation) and a steaming sausage roll on a sunny/ rainy day in London is divine.
Charlotte: I’m gonna be quite boring here and say visit Buckingham Palace and the royal parks. It’s such a famous landmark which is always nice to see. Another thing I love is Richmond Park and seeing the deer close up.
Do you have a favourite museum, gallery or attraction?
Tom: I love the V&A, it has everything! From historic artifacts, to west end costumes! But most importantly, the gift shop is sublime.
Charlotte: Tom’s gone quite artsy with the V&A but I love the Natural History Museum. Back in the days when Dippy the Dinosaur was there it was epic. Even now with the skeleton of the blue whale it’s soooo impressive.
Where do you go for a bite to eat in the city?
Charlotte: I’m gonna defer to Tom for this one as he’s the expert. But if you do go to the V&A or Natural History museum, round the corner there is a bakery that does a giant croissant! We tried it three years ago and my stepson still talks about it!
Tom: THANK YOU CHARLOTTE. London has some of the best food in the world, and our south East Asian cuisine is phenomenal – head over to Chinatown and get some homemade dim sum: Leongs Legend is my fave!
Where’s your go-to spot for a drink or a treat?
Charlotte: In the nicer weather (not this awful rain!) definitely the Southbank. So many places to choose from by the river, you can’t beat it. Or another great shout is Gordon’s wine bar by embankment, lovely seating outside but also really atmospheric indoors.
Tom: For me, it’s always the pub. Whether it’s the depths of winter or a gorgeous spring day, the pub is the place to be! The French House on Dean Street is pure class.
Do you have a favourite green space to reset in London?
Tom: We have so much greenery in London! I think my favourite has to be Regent’s Park. Always makes me feel like I’m walking through an episode of The Crown when I pass through.
Charlotte: I agree with Tom that Regent’s Park is lovely. I also love Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. If you’ve got kids there are also some nice activities there too.
Where do you like to shop (or browse) when you have time off?
Tom: I’ll answer for the both of us, as Charlotte is having some of her “me-time”. I LOVE guitars, and nothing beats window shopping on Denmark Street.
Charlotte: Time off??!! I’m laying down in a dark room on the rare occasion that happens! I do I quite like Regent Street though.
Is there a place in London that holds a special memory for you?
Tom: Quite a few but the unexpected one for me that’s quite apt for this interview is Waterloo Station. I was on the concourse when my agent called to say I’d got this job and I sobbed outside Pret! Haha!!
Charlotte: Oh there’s so many, but one of my favourites was when I was buying a sandwich from the Pret in Waterloo Station, and this bizarre woman broke down in tears of joy just outside the door. Happy memories.
The Play That Goes Wrong is now showing at The Duchess Theatre to January 2027.
