Directed Inside No 9's Simon Evans

A new live version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is to open in London later this year.

It has been created by Arvind Ethan David, who was mentored by Hitchhiker’s author Douglas Adams as a student. He said: ‘The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of the most influential stories ever told. It’s a satire, a comedy, a science-fiction epic, a work of philosophy and so much else. 

‘Douglas Adams, who I was honoured to have as a mentor, predicted the world we live in now, with its social media gone mad and extinction level threats. Now with a group of world class storytellers drawn from the best of Broadway, the West End and television, we get to bring HHGG to a new generation of hitchhikers.’

The production will take over two studios at Riverside Studios from  November 15, and will start taking bookings from June 25 from anyone who registers at hitchhikerslive.com. 

The show is directed by Simon ​Evans – who recently directed Inside No 9: Stage/Fright  – along with live experience experts Georgia Clarke-Day and David Frias-Robles, whose credits include the Traitors and Taskmaster spin-offs respectively. 

No details or casting have yet been announced, with the blurb saying only: ‘Re-immerse yourself in the brilliantly absurdist adventure with Arthur Dent, Trillian, Fenchurch, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Marvin the Paranoid Android as you embark on an infinitely improbable madcap journey around the galaxy.’ 

But producers say the work is not just based on Adams’ novels but also   the 2005  film which starred Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent, and it ‘presented by special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatricals’

David’s career started when he was still a student and adapted the Douglas Adams’ novel Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency as a play. The author came to see it, and took the young writer under his wing.  He went on to produce the BBC America TV series based on the character.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy live show is produced by West End producer Tamar Climan  and David’s company Prodigal Entertainment. 

Adams died in May 2001 at the age of 49

Published: 3 Jun 2025