The entirety of cult sitcom Friends. All ten seasons and 236 episodes in just 70 minutes
The entirety of cult sitcom Friends. All ten seasons and 236 episodes in just 70 minutes

What is FRIEND ?

This show from acclaimed comic actor Brendan Murphy reimagines the TV classic through the eyes of barista Gunther. Settle down in Gunther’s café to hear the true insider story of what happened to Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Monica and Joey from the Friends character who kept them caffeinated through all the highs, lows, love affairs and failed auditions along the way! 

One barista, seventy minutes, ten seasons. The entire 236 episodes of the hit 90s TV show, Friends, as told through the eyes of the one person who knows it inside out… Gunther.

It’s been thirty years since the Friends pilot was filmed and still it looms large as one of the most successful television shows of all time. Translated into various languages and airing in over 50 different countries, rarely has a show had such global appeal. After it arrived on Netflix on New Year’s Day 2018, it became the most-streamed show on the internet.

In a desperate plea to gain his audience's affection, character comedian Brendan Murphy has come up with a show that will appeal to literally everyone and finally get him one of those shiny awards or at very least some kind of certificate.

The show is now on tour in the UK, performed by Joseph Maudsley.

He gives you the entirety of the cult sitcom in 70 minutes of life-changing entertainment from your new best FRIEND

Out of five stars, it should be seven… seven… SEVEN!
Welcome to the real world of FRIENDS, you're gonna love it!
Joseph Maudsley is a master of subtle and effective humour
Cleverly talented... Hilarious audience participation, wacky personality and goofy skits and songs.
A one-hour, one-man wonder... masterfully delivered.
Packed with enough well observed detail to satisfy even the most obsessive fan

 

Tour

FRIEND (The One With Gunther) is back from a break for a new UK tour in 2024

Mon 18 Mar
Webster Memorial Theatre
Arbroath
Ended
Tue 19 Mar
Dundee Rep
Wed 27 Mar
New Wolsey Theatre
Ipswich
Sat 30 Mar
Floral Pavilion
New Brighton, Wirral
Tue 2 Apr
Mercury Theatre
Colchester
Wed 3 Apr
Cast
Doncaster
Sat 6 Apr
Northern Stage
Newcastle upon Tyne
14 - 26 May
King's Head Theatre
London
Fri 26 Jul
Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre

Brendan Murphy

Writer & Performer

Brendan is an actor, writer and comedian.

He also created the multi-award-winning parody, Buffy Revamped (Best One Person Show and Best Comedy Performance, DarkChat Awards 2022) which was a hit at Edinburgh Fringe in 2022 and 2023.

An experienced improviser, Brendan is a member of BBC Radio One's BattleActs! and a guest player for Second City and Monkey Toast. Regularly performing in the Olivier award-nominated Potted Potter, he has toured extensively across the US and Canada including a residency at Bally's, Las Vegas, which won Best New Show in the Best Of Las Vegas Awards. 

He is co-creator of the ARIA award-nominated satirical comedy podcast NonCensored with Rosie Holt. Other writing credits include The Mawaan & Emily Show (BBC Asian Network), SO! Beano (Sky Kids) and Comedians In Quarantine (Comedy Central) with co-writer Kiell Smith-Bynoe.

 

Hamish MacDougall

Director

Hamish MacDougall’s directing credits include The War Of The Worlds (New Diorama/North Wall /Tour); Willy by William Andrews (Soho/Pleasance); Hammerhead by Joseph Morpurgo (Soho/Southbank /Pleasance/Tour and winner of The Brighton Comedy Award and Pleasance Best Comedy Show 2018); Soothing Sounds For Baby by Joseph Morpurgo (Soho/Pleasance and nominated for Edinburgh Comedy Award, named as Time Out number one comedy show of the year); Life and Rhymes by Abandoman (Udderbelly/Edinburgh/Soho/Melbourne); The 24 Hour Plays (Old Vic); The Narcissist which Hamish co-wrote with Graham Dickson (Underbelly/Toomler Amsterdam/BAC); and Zoo by Lily Bevan (Theatre 503). 

 

Joseph Maudsley

Performer

Joseph is a Derby-born, Berkhamsted-based, Birmingham School of Acting trained actor. He has just landed back in the UK from his most recent tour of the Olivier Award-nominated Potted Potter, which has taken him all over the world including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines and the USA, with seasons in Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco and Las Vegas, where the show won Best New Show in The Best of Las Vegas awards. His debut performance of FRIEND (The One With Gunther) was at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with a sold-out run, five-star reviews and an Offie nomination. Other work includes The Reduced Shakespeare Company performing their William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (Abridged) and multiple tours with Oddsocks Theatre Company. His most recent TV appearance saw him in ITV’s Grantchester.

Hysterical... a must-see for old and new fans of FRIENDS
Adelaide Advertiser
OH MY GAWD. This is one that will definitely be there for you
London Theatre Reviews
Brendan Murphy plays that blonde, awkward Gunther to a tea... or in this case to a coffee cup.
All About Entertainment
An hour of beautifully-organised, good-hearted chaos
Broadway Baby
Brendan Murphy is a very funny man.
Edfringe Review
Had the audience wailing with laughter.
The Skinny
Riotously funny… Voice and expressions as malleable as putty.
Three Weeks
Very family friendly... A really enjoyable, light-hearted experience.
One4Review
For a reduced Shakespeare style telling of the FRIENDS saga, this can’t be beaten
The Reviews Hub
You’ll be hard pushed to find a better hour.
TV BOMB
A perfect night with FRIENDS
Scottish Field