Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use.

Act II of Noises Off is set during a performance of Nothing On in another provincial location: the Theatre Royal, Ashton-under-Lyne, a month into the company’s touring run. The stage directions state that the set has been rotated by 180˚ to show both the onstage and offstage areas. The action of Act II shows events backstage while the performance of Act I of Nothing On runs in parallel on the fictional stage set at the Theatre Royal. Dialogue from Nothing On can be heard by the characters and the audience throughout; the actor-characters of Noises Off are required to be quiet while backstage in order not to disturb the performance.

The performance is about to start. When Poppy calls for the actors to take their places, Tim wonders if Dotty will take her place. Poppy is sure that Dotty will come out of her dressing room but only has a few minutes to change if she is going to perform as Dotty’s understudy. Lloyd peeks backstage, and Poppy goes off to talk to Dotty instead of dealing with Lloyd. Lloyd has been rehearsing Richard III with another acting group in another town but has come to visit Brooke.