Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, creators of the cult BBC series Inside No 9, have found unexpected fame in China, where they are mobbed by fans. The duo are currently touring a stage adaptation of their show, Stage/Fright, which recently completed a West End run.
The stage show adapts the TV series' anthology format, mixing horror and comedy. It includes a reprise of the episode Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room and features a celebrity guest star at each performance. The tour visits venues including the Liverpool Empire and Edinburgh Playhouse, though the pair admit that modern theatres in shopping centres pose a challenge for creating a spooky atmosphere.
Pemberton noted that the TV show's popularity grew gradually, with many viewers only discovering it after its conclusion. Shearsmith added that the stage tour has allowed them to meet their audience directly, reinforcing the sense that the decade-long series was worthwhile.
Despite the success, the pair described the creative pressure of sustaining fresh ideas for nine series. Shearsmith likened the effort to a swan appearing graceful on the surface while paddling furiously underneath, with Pemberton adding that the swan's feet were 'arthritic'.
