Noises Off is a 1982 play by the playwright Michael Frayn which opened to a sell out theatre at the Birmingham Rep on Tuesday 29th August 2023 direct from a triumphant West End season.   This reviewer was seated behind Cllr Chaman Lal,  the Lord Mayor of Birmingham.  Described as one of the greatest British comedies ever written, Michael Frayn conceived the idea of the play in 1970 while watching from the wings of a performance of a farce he had written for Lynn Redgrave and found the play funnier from behind than in front.   The play was given 5 stars by The Times and described "As finely worked as a Swiss watch and as funny as the human condition permits".  Noises Off follows the on and off stage antics of a touring theatre company as they stumble their way through the fictional farce Nothing On.     Michael Frayn has rewritten the play over the past 40 years and it has been performed all over the world due to its popular demand.  Now celebrating it`s 40th anniversary, a production directed by Lindsay Posner ran in the West End at the Phoenix Theatre from January - March 2023 following a short UK tour in  autumn 2022, commencing at Bath Theatre Royal,  starring Felicity Kendal and Matthew Kelly (pictured) before the Birmingham performances.     So what is the secret of it`s success and longevity?  The audience loved the performance on opening night at the Birmingham Rep (did I mention it was sold out?  Midweek?  During a Bank Holiday weekend?)  Unfortunately  this reviewer was not able to get any feedback from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham.  In essence, Noises Off is a play within a play, a farce which appears very dated.  It`s the type of farce in which young girls run about in their underwear, old men drop their trousers and doors continually bang open and shut.     The Sunday Express gave the play 5 stars and described it as "the ultimate comedy of theatrical chaos and confusion" with the Mail on Sunday giving it another 5 stars.  "Lindsay Posner`s miraculously choreographed revival is proof that Noises Off has lost none of its power to reduce adults to hysterical, helpless wrecks".     "Noises Off is a genius piece of writing and Michael Frayn, who is now 89, has been with us since the start of this production and he is very supportive" said Matthew Kelly.  "The West End was packed and people just so wanted to be entertained by a brilliant play" says Matthew.  "To see a theatre full like that after a pandemic was wonderful.  It`s the kind of theatre that we need.  It`s exciting, it`s intelligent, it`s a thrilling piece of theatre and it will have people literally rocking in their seats".   With a stage and screen career now spanning more than 50 years, Matthew Kelly knows his theatre. He has won an Olivier Award for his performance in The Rep`s Of Mice and Men (2001) and his West End credits include Waiting for Godot, Comedians and Troilus and Cressida.  The play makes use of the enduring theatrical device of the play within a play.   "A play within a play allows you to narrate certain sections which would be dull, you`re allowed to comment on the play and each other and it allows for greater comedy in exploiting the foibles of actors which is never not funny" said Matthew Kelly.  "People always love to laugh at actors."   With an all star cast, Noises Off runs until Saturday 9th September when it will return to the West End.  It also features Liza Goddard, whose extensive range of stage comedy credits include Life of Riley, Communicating Doors, Seasons Greetings and Relatively Speaking plus Simon Shepherd whose many credits include Peak Practice and the West End productions of Posh, The Duck House, Rapture, Art and Hay Fever.