Noises Off at The Old Vic, London Sparkling Comedy at The Old Vic Noises Off is Michael Frayn’s award-winning play that goes behind the scenes of a touring comedy, Nothing On, from its farcical dress rehearsal to disastrous debut on the road. As the relationships between the actors deteriorate, the on-stage chaos increases with fluffed lines, missed cues & troublesome props adding to the general sense of disorder. Noises Off premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith in 1982, directed by Michael Blakemore & starring Patricia Routledge. It subsequently transferred to the West End where it ran until 1987 at the Savoy Theatre & won an Olivier Award for Best Comedy.