Sketch comedy trio Crybabies are heading to London’s Soho Theatre following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, bringing their new show The Scaring to the venue’s Main House from 3rd to 23rd September 2026. The production marks the group’s most ambitious project to date, combining horror tropes, surreal comedy and rapid-fire character work in a show that has already drawn four-star notices from across the national press.
The trio — Michael Clarke, James Gault and Ed Jones — have been Edinburgh Fringe regulars for several years, previously transferring earlier shows Bagbeard and Danger Brigade to the same Soho Theatre stage. Both were critically acclaimed, earning the group a devoted following and Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nominations. The Scaring follows that established pattern of a Fringe debut leading directly into a London run, with press night set for Monday 7th September at 9pm.
Reviews from Edinburgh have been strongly positive. The Guardian called the show “a torrent of great gags and illusions” and awarded it four stars, while The Telegraph described Crybabies as “the most exciting sketch troupe of recent years”. Chortle gave it four-and-a-half stars, writing that it is “full of brilliant moments of creativity, and will make you laugh until you see stars”. The Daily Mail added “scarily good… frantic stuff and hugely enjoyable”, and The Scotsman praised it as “fast, fun and sometimes frightening”.
A Horror Story Held Together with Gaffer Tape
The show centres on former priest Arthur Holland, who checks into a remote hotel only to discover that the dangers extend well beyond a questionable breakfast buffet. Trapped in an unlikely partnership with Gerry — the ghost of a long-dead guest — Arthur must confront both supernatural and personal demons under the supervision of the hotel’s unsettling manager, Mr Lyle, described as Norman Bates-esque. The plot takes in Shakespearean zombies, broken-armed serial killers and walking waxworks, threading classic horror references through Crybabies’ characteristically absurdist sensibility.
Clarke, Gault and Jones shapeshift through dozens of roles across the show, with rapid costume changes — sometimes mid-scene — that the press release notes border on the miraculous in their clarity. Despite the breakneck pace, the production retains what the group are known for: ambitious storytelling achieved through deliberately low-budget means, with effects driven by suggestion rather than spectacle. The result has been described as big-budget horror assembled on a shoestring.
Crybabies said: “We’re thrilled to be performing at Soho Theatre for the first time since 2023. And because the world hasn’t become terrifying enough in those convening years, we thought we’d do a horror. Inspired by everything from Scary Movie to scary movies, we’re determined to put even more boos into the Soho evening air. The fact we’ve managed to drag the good folks of FMP into it is still, quite frankly, baffling.”
High-Profile Creative Team
The production has attracted a notably high-profile team. The Scaring is produced by Francesca Moody Productions — whose credits include the Olivier Award-winning Fleabag and Baby Reindeer — in association with Plosive Live, the comedy and podcast company. It marks another Soho Theatre transfer for Francesca Moody Productions, following Fleabag and Weather Girl.
Direction is by Jon Brittain, the Olivier Award-winning writer and director whose recent credits include Baby Reindeer and the West End transfer of Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! His 2017 play Rotterdam won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre. The creative team also includes set and costume designer Cecilia Carey, lighting designer Bethany Gupwell, sound designer Ed Lewis and video designer Nina Dunn.
Francesca Moody said: “I’m delighted that we’re transferring this horrifyingly funny show to Soho Theatre. It’s hugely exciting to be bringing together the comic genius of Crybabies with the imagination of a top tier creative team led by Jon Brittain. This wonderfully talented group of people are making something ambitious, surprising and truly terrifying.”
A Trio on the Rise
Beyond their work as a collective, all three members of Crybabies have been building individual screen careers. Clarke has appeared in Netflix’s Lockwood & Co and Disney’s Extraordinary, and co-hosts the satire podcast Everything Is News, which reached number five in the UK podcast charts and is in development for television. Gault, who trained at L’École Philippe Gaulier, has appeared in After Life on Netflix, Murder They Hope for UKTV Gold and Trespasses for Channel 4. Jones has screen credits including Bridgerton, Big Boys and Not Going Out, and has accumulated over 100 million views across Instagram and TikTok.
As a group, Crybabies also have an active BBC radio presence. Their series Crybabies Present… launched in 2024 with a radio adaptation of Bagbeard, followed by Yours, Fatally, with both productions earning nominations at the BBC Audio Drama Awards in 2025 and 2026 respectively.
Tickets for The Scaring at Soho Theatre are available now. The show runs in the Main House from Thursday 3rd September to Wednesday 23rd September 2026.
