After ending their comedy-thriller-horror anthology TV show after an appropriate nine series (55 episodes in all, each with a twist in the tale), Inside No.9 creators Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton had one more trick up their sleeves – turning it into a live show.

Equal parts spin-off and homage - to their own invention as well as its array of inspirations, from Tales of the Unexpected to Hammer House of Horror - Stage/Fright is also terrific entertainment for fans (a number of attendees came dressed as familiar characters) and newcomers alike. But not those who eat loudly or leave their mobile phones on, as the dramatic opening prologue demonstrated - you have been warned.

After a brief introduction when the duo appeared as themselves to provide a little context - the history of haunted theatres, and the ghost of the Alexandra in particular - the play was off and running, much like its stars, who regularly raced between costume changes. I say play, but Stage/Fright is more a collection of vignettes, some of which are effectively the TV show’s greatest hits - notably from episodes Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room and A Quiet Night In - cleverly woven into a semblance of narrative, especially in the first (‘Stage’) half.

There are constant laughs and high farce throughout, from brilliant throwaway jokes - often at the theatre industry’s expense - to the sequence when a kidnap victim is revealed to be Adrian Chiles (a variety of celebrities have appeared throughout the show’s run, much like the TV series), and whose brave attempts to act (okay, adlib) even had his co-stars corpsing.

The second half (‘Fright’), largely designed as a play within a play, replaces much of the humour with horror, dialled up to Hammer and Blair Witch levels - a movie screen adds to the effect - with some serious shock and schlock, kills and thrills. It’s all great fun with some glorious set pieces, tempered by a nagging sense that an element of plot was getting lost along the way. That said, it still built to a terrific finale - absolutely no spoilers here - with a palpable sense of fun being had by audience and cast alike.

The latter included sterling support from the likes Anna Francolini and Miranda Hennessey, and Grace Smart’s set design made everything work beautifully, but Pemberton and Shearsmith, both on stellar form, were the undeniable stars of the show. The endless creativity of the unique TV series will live long in the memory, and this stage version is not only a fitting tribute but a fantastic night at the theatre.

Four stars

Reviewed by Steve Adams at The Alexandra, Birmingham, on Tuesday 7 October.
Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright continues at the venue until Sat 11 October. It then shows at The Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 November ahead of a return visit to The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, from Tuesday 2 to Saturday 6 December.