Rowan Atkinson is back on a West End stage next year. His new sketch show, Rowan Live, plays 30 performances only at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from 8 February 2027, and booking opens on Wednesday 7 October.
Rowan Atkinson is heading back to the West End. His new show, Rowan Live, begins a strictly limited season at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on Monday 8 February 2027. There are 30 performances in all, and the last is on Saturday 13 March 2027.
Tickets go on sale in two stages, both on Wednesday 7 October. Priority booking for those who sign up through the show’s official website starts at 9am. Public booking follows at 12pm.
The evening is made of sketches. Atkinson brings back the comedy that made his name, and the characters that grew out of it: Mr Bean, Blackadder and favourites from Not the Nine O’Clock News. There is fresh material too, written with three long-standing collaborators, Richard Curtis, Ben Elton and Howard Goodall.
The announcement film sets out what to expect from the show.
“It is forty years since I last did a comedy sketch show in the West End, and I thought it would be fun to perform again the sketches that began it all for myself and Richard Curtis, and in which my most well-known characters originated; alongside some surprise new material written especially for this show,” Atkinson said.
Curtis said: “I first saw Rowan perform on stage in 1976, 50 years ago - and it was instantly clear to all of us that we were watching a unique, once in a lifetime talent. 50 years later, this summer, we started putting this show together in front of a small audience, and all that magic, that unique accuracy and comic genius is still there for all to see. It’s such a joy and honour for me to be part of a show that will include the very best of Rowan on stage - all his voices, shapes, faces and characters. I hope it will make people very happy.”
Raz Shaw directs, with music by Howard Goodall. The producers are Playful Productions, in association with PBJ Management.
Performances run Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, and the opening night is Tuesday 16 February 2027, eight days into the run. The Gillian Lynne Theatre is at 166 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW.
