This deliciously dark comedy marked the stage debut of British TV titan Steven Moffat – the celebrated showrunner of Doctor Who and creator of Press Gang, Coupling, Sherlock and Douglas is Cancelled – and became a West End hit. While holidaying on a cruise ship, timorous, middle-class couple Peter and Debbie befriend Elsa, a brash American widow, who invites herself to stay with them a couple of months later. Googling her, Peter and Debbie are alarmed to discover that Elsa has been accused of putting more than mushrooms into the odd casserole, with poisonous results. What to do? The Unfriend takes a wonderful swipe at middle-class England’s obsession with politeness, manners and being “nice” – whatever the cost. Comic genius Helen Thomson plays Elsa under the direction of Simon Phillips.

Limelight Editor’s Choice

Comedic genius Helen Thomson (Colin from Accounts, The Importance of Being Earnest) is back on board at Sydney Theatre Company to challenge everything you thought you knew about good manners.

Directed by the legendary Simon Phillips (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert), The Unfriend is the stage debut of Steven Moffat, the writer behind mega hits Doctor Who, Sherlock and Douglas is Cancelled.

On a cruise ship, Peter and Debbie befriend Elsa, a sassy and less than sensitive American widow who demands they stay in touch. When Elsa invites herself to stay a few months later, they look her up online and learn that she’s been putting more than mushrooms into the odd casserole, with poisonous results. Now, the couple must race to protect their family whilst avoiding the greatest faux pas of all: being, well, a bit impolite? Because guess who’s coming to… murder!