Clue Returns to DC at The National Theatre

Clue is back in Washington, DC—this time taking over The National Theatre from January 27 – February 1, 2026 for a one-week run that’s built for anyone who loves a fast, funny night out and a good old-fashioned whodunit.

Clue at The National Theatre in DC

Based on the fan-favorite 1985 film and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, the setup is deliciously simple: six strangers arrive at Boddy Manor on a dark and stormy night, each hiding a secret, each handed a weapon, and each suddenly trapped in a dinner party that turns into absolute chaos. From there, Clue does what it does best—spinning suspicion in every direction while keeping the energy high and the laughs coming, right up to its final twist.

When the tour rolled through town in 2024, what really landed was how confidently the stage version leans into the movie’s most entertaining instincts: the rapid-fire farce, the physical comedy, and the “did that really just happen?” momentum that keeps the story feeling like it’s constantly one step away from falling apart—in the best way. The show moves at a brisk clip (around 80 minutes with no intermission), which only adds to the sense that you’re watching a perfectly timed domino run of misunderstandings, entrances and exits, and escalating mayhem.

A big part of the fun is how much the production feels like the mansion itself is “playing” along. Reviews from the previous DC engagement raved about the set as a kind of puzzle box—rooms and spaces appearing and shifting quickly, keeping the action fluid as characters bolt from one suspicion to the next. Add in theatrical surprises like set pieces that drop in or unfold rapidly, plus the shadowy corners, secret-passage vibes, and playful nods to the board game’s icons, and you get a staging that’s as visual as it is comedic.

Just as important, Clue thrives on precision. The humor doesn’t work unless the timing is razor sharp—and that timing was a major highlight the last time it was here, from the snappy one-liners to the bigger, choreographed bursts of slapstick and the smooth, no-dead-air transitions that keep the pace from ever sagging. Even the stormy-night atmosphere becomes part of the storytelling, with blackouts, sound cues, and lighting shifts used to heighten the misdirection (and to make the next gag land even harder).

And if you’re the kind of Clue fan who can quote the movie, that’s not a problem—it’s a feature. The stage version largely preserves the film’s quippy spirit and many of its most familiar rhythms, so the laughs often come from recognizing what’s about to happen… and then enjoying how cleverly the production pulls it off live. If you’ve never seen it before, it still plays as an easy-to-follow mystery-comedy with nonstop antics and a steady stream of “wait…so who did it?” reversals.

Clue is generally best for older kids, teens, and adults—it’s a comedy first, but it does include murder-mystery hijinks, innuendo, and some suggestive humor. If you want a winter escape that’s light, clever, and relentlessly entertaining, this is one of those touring comedies that feels tailor-made for a downtown DC night at The National Theatre.