Crybabies has announced the transfer of The Scaring to the Soho Theater in September.
The Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nominees will haunt the Soho Theater Main House between Thursday 3rd – Wednesday 23rd September 2026, following their Edinburgh Fringe run this summer.
The trio, made up of Michael Clarke, James Gault and Ed Jones, join forces with Olivier Award-winning Fleabag and Baby Reindeer producers Francesca Moody Productions and director Jon Brittain (Baby clean, Kathy and Stella solve a murder!), to present a terrifying tale of fear, faith, fathers (fathers), fathers (priests), fantoms (phantoms) and finally moving on.
The Scaring marks the return of Crybabies to the Soho Theatre, where they have previously presented two wildly acclaimed shows Sack beard and Danger Brigade. The production also follows in the footsteps of previous Francesca Moody Productions transitions to the Soho Theatre, i.a. Flea bag and Weather girl.
The Scaring synopsis
When former priest Arthur Holland checks into a remote hotel, he soon learns that it’s not just the breakfast buffet that poses a threat to life. Forced into an unlikely double act with Gerry, the ghost of a long-dead guest, Arthur must deal with demons both public and private under the watchful eye of Mr Lyle – the hotel’s Norman Bates-esque manager.
With absurd characters, classic horror tropes and a plot that veers into ever stranger territory, The Scaring combines Crybaby’s signature blend of surreal sketch, narrative ambition and theatrical mischief. Expect Shakespearean zombies, broken-armed serial killers and walking waxworks, in a terrifying tale where all is not as it seems. Or rather, as it screams.
Despite the chaos, everything makes sense. The Scaring moves at a breakneck pace, with Crybabies shape-shifting through dozens of roles and lightning-fast costume changes – often within the same scene. The sheer number of characters, the speed of the switches and the fact that the audience somehow always knows exactly who is bordering on the miraculous.
The show embraces a sharper visual ambition this year, with moments of genuinely slick theatricality – but it never loses the scrappy brilliance the Crybabies are known for. Expect high drama built on low-budget nonsense: costumes assembled from clips, effects driven by suggestion and set pieces that are both ridiculous and ridiculously effective. It’s horror with big budgets; ambitious, theatrical and still held together with gaffer tape.
Crybabies: A New Chapter
The Scaring marks a bold new chapter for Crybabies: bigger, stranger and more ambitious than ever. Produced by Francesca Moody Productions in association with award-winning comedy and podcast company Plosive Live – this is Crybabies turned up. It’s smarter, creepier, and somehow even sillier.
Over the past few years, all three Crybabies have quietly leveled up. They have worked on a new BBC radio series, developed projects for screen and appeared on TV including roles in Jack Rooke’s award-winning Channel 4 series Big boysDisney’s Extra and Ricky Gervais’ After life on Netflix. Their solo careers have taken exciting strides forward, while their collective mayhem has only grown more refined.
After the success of Danger Brigade and Sack beardCrybabies has built a loyal, slightly obsessed fan base. With their signature blend of mayhem, tenderness and theatrical invention, Crybabies have become one of Britain’s most distinctive and best-loved sketch acts.
Crybabies said: “We’re excited to be performing at the Soho Theater for the first time since 2023. And since the world hasn’t gotten scary enough in these convening years, we thought we’d do a scare. Inspired by everything from Scary movie to scary movies, we’re determined to add even more boos to Soho’s evening air. The fact that we have managed to draw the good people into the FMP is still, frankly, baffling.”
Francesca Moody said: “I’m delighted that we’re bringing this wildly funny show to the Soho Theatre. It’s hugely exciting to bring together the comic genius of the Crybabies with the imagination of a top-level creative team led by Jon Brittain. This wonderfully talented group of people are doing something ambitious, surprising and truly terrifying.”
The Scaring is directed by Jon Brittain, with sets and costumes by Cecilia Carey (Baby Reindeer, Kathy and Stella solve a murder!), Lighting by Bethany Gupwell (The Maidens, Twelfth Night), Audio by Ed Lewis (Stage fright: Inside number 9, view from the bridge) and video by Nina Dunn (Avenue Q, the shark is broken).
Tickets to The Scaring at the Soho Theater are available now.
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