The Play’s the Thing – Witcher 3 Quest

This guide is a walkthrough of a main quest in the Witcher 3 for the area of Novigrad. The guide is composed of a map, map legend, and walkthrough to show readers exactly where to go and what to do to complete the quest.

Map Legend

1 – The Kingfisher
2 – Theater
3 – Sofus the Bull
4 – Puffins
5 – Fatso

Walkthrough

To start off in this quest, you’ll need to meet with Priscella in her room upstairs in the Kingfisher in Novigrad (#1). When you tell her your plan to rescue Dandelion from the dungeons beneath Temple Isle — by having Dudu the doppler impersonate Menge so he can have Dandelion moved to Oxenfurt, where you’ll be able to free him — Priscilla will inform you that she hasn’t seen Dudu in a while, and that he’s probably in hiding. However, she’ll reveal that Dudu is a big fan of the theater and Irina’s acting troupe in particular, and she’ll suggest that the two of you write a play so grand that Dudu won’t be able to resist going to see it.

Luckily for you, Priscilla will do all of the heavy lifting for the script. You’ll just need to decide on a title of the play and whether it should be a drama or a comedy. The title won’t make any difference, but the genre will determine if you have to do any fighting at the end of the performance. If you choose comedy then you won’t. If you choose drama then you will.

When Priscilla finishes her masterpiece, she’ll give you your copy of the play (either A Changeling Rescued or The Doppler’s Salvation), she’ll give you Irina’s Copy of the Play, and she’ll direct you to set things up with Irina. This will earn you 300 xp.

When you reach Irina’s theater (#2), you’ll meet a ticket seller out front. He won’t let you enter the theater grounds without a ticket, which will cost you 50 crowns. There isn’t any way to avoid this fee.

Inside the theater grounds, you’ll find Irina standing in front of the stage. When you introduce yourself to her and explain why you’re there, she’ll take you back to her dressing room. When you show her the play, she’ll agree to stage it, but she’ll ask you handle security and advertising:

• For security, you’ll need to meet with Sofus the Bull at the docks (#3) and convince him and his brother Hal to work as ushers for the play. You’ll have two ways of accomplishing this. You can pay Sofus 70 crowns, or you can box him and Hal at the same time. If you win the boxing match, then the pair will work for free. Otherwise, they’ll cost you 140 crowns. So pick the option that’s cheapest for you.
  
• For advertising, you’ll need to hire the Puffins (#4). But when you talk to them, you’ll learn that they’re being harassed by a bandit named Fatso, who disrupts everything they try to do. You’ll find Fatso to the east (#5). When you talk to him, you’ll have three options for getting him and his goons to leave: a threat, a 50 crown bribe, or Axii / Delusion. However, no matter which you choose, you’ll have to fight them, but they’ll quickly flee once you’ve done a little damage. At the end of the battle, you’ll earn 150 xp, and the Puffins will start getting the word out about the play.

When you return to Irina (#2), she’ll ask you to help her cast two of the roles in the play. It doesn’t seem to matter who plays the princess, but you should select Abelard as the prince since Maxim will show up drunk. You’ll then find out that you’re going to play the witcher, and that you’ll have to speak some lines. You’ll find your lines on your copy of the play (which will be with your quest items). If you say the right lines, then the crowd will be happier, but the wrong lines are often funnier.

Next up, you’ll get to watch the play and deliver your lines. At the end, you’ll spot Dudu in the crowd and call him up onto the stage. A few of the spectators won’t like that a doppler got a happy ending, but if you made the play a comedy then they’ll get shouted down. Otherwise, you’ll have to fight some rowdies with the help of your ushers. Either way, you’ll earn 500 xp for surviving your first starring role.

After the play has concluded, you’ll get a chance to talk to Dudu in Irina’s dressing room, and he’ll agree to your plan for freeing Dandelion. Then Irina will reward you for how well the play turned out. If you didn’t hire the Puffins and did everything wrong, then you’ll earn 10 crowns and 75 xp. But if you hired the Puffins and did everything right, then you’ll earn 130 crowns and 360 xp. So you’ll get a much nicer reward the harder you try.