Comedian will make his West End stage debut as Shakespeare in
comedy adaptation promising troubles, twins and a dancing bear
Ben Elton’s sitcom Upstart Crow, which imagines the beleaguered personal and professional lives of a floridly loquacious William Shakespeare, is to be adapted for the stage. It will provide David Mitchell, who has played the lead role in three series for the
BBC, with his West End theatre debut. Gemma Whelan will resume her role as Kate, the shrewd daughter of Shakespeare’s landlord, in the new play.
“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to bring history’s most famous balding dramatist to the West End,” said Mitchell. “Theatregoers can look forward to a comedy steeped in authentic Shakespearean ambience in every way apart from the smell.”