Rowan Atkinson brings Mr Bean and Blackadder back to West End

Rowan Atkinson is returning to the West End with his first comedy sketch show there in 40 years, bringing some of his most famous characters back to the stage.

Rowan Live will play just 30 performances at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre from 8 February to 13 March 2027.

The show will see Atkinson revisit Mr Bean and Blackadder alongside favourites from Not the Nine O’Clock News.

The production will not rely entirely on old material. Atkinson has reunited with long-term collaborators Richard Curtis, Ben Elton and Howard Goodall to create new material specifically for the show, while Raz Shaw will direct and Goodall will provide the music.

Atkinson said the idea came from wanting to perform again the sketches which helped launch his partnership with Curtis and eventually led to some of his best-known characters. The pair began developing the new show in front of a small audience during summer 2026.

While Atkinson has appeared on a West End stage more recently as an actor, Rowan Live marks his first West End comedy sketch show in four decades, making the distinction particularly important.

The run is strictly limited, with priority booking opening at 9am on Wednesday 7 October and general public booking from noon the same day.

Rowan Live runs at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, London, from 8 February to 13 March 2027. Image: BBC