The hugely popular play, The Importance of Being… Earnest? – unique for its interactive, riotous twist on Oscar Wilde’s famed farce – will come to The Garrick Theatre, Lichfield from Thursday 27 – Saturday 29 June 2024.

Creative director Simon Paris shares insight into what audiences can expect from this phenomenally critically acclaimed show.

What makes The Importance of Being… Earnest? different from a typical performance of Oscar Wilde’s classic farce?

Our version of Earnest is very different in that we are presenting a traditional take of the play until the lead actor playing Ernest Worthing fails to arrive. The director then casts a real audience member, gets them into a microphone and costume, and they play Ernest for the whole show. Throughout the show, the rest of the cast drop out one by one and are all replaced with audience members. It is completely as mad as it sounds. 

How did you first come up with the concept? 

…Earnest? came about through the idea of offering unsuspecting audience members the chance to step out of their comfort zone, take a risk and become a star. We have noticed that the audience members who decide to volunteer to perform in our show become local legends for the rest of the festival and are regularly spotted by other audience members.

How do you keep the audience members ‘on script’? 

Audience members generally read what’s on the script - if they have any script at all. And if not, the cast are incredibly gifted at accepting and embracing the wonderful curveballs that the audience members often throw at them. We don’t particularly have an exact show we are trying to recreate every night, rather, we offer audience members opportunities to shine and when they do, it feels like real magic is created.

What's the most unexpected performance an audience member has given?

There's always something unique, weird and wonderful about every show we do, but sometimes we do get someone who really goes out on a limb. We once had a man attempt to deliver his lines while crawling underneath Lady Bracknell's skirt. We've had random mass singalongs to Queen and audience members spontaneously kiss mid-scene.

Do audience members have to get involved if they’d prefer not to?

All of the audience participation in …Earnest? Is completely voluntary. The show is equally fun to get up on-stage, as it is to watch others volunteer and join the fun.

What’s the typical reaction from audiences?

It’s incredible to see so many returning audience members, sometimes up to 10 times. The secret ingredient is the true level of risk and danger that the show invites. Every night it feels like opening night as we truly can’t predict what is going to happen and who is going to end up joining us on stage and audiences seem to not be able to get enough of that. 

What do you hope audiences take away from The Importance of Being… Earnest??

We often speak to audience members after the show and a recurring theme is that the people who volunteer are often the ones who have sworn to never get on stage, but in the heat of the moment they take a leap of faith, put their hand up, perform in the show and have a great time. The main take-away is that just a few seconds of being brave and taking a chance can lead you to the most magical adventures and make amazing memories.

If Oscar Wilde were to come and see your play, what do you think he would make of it?

I think Oscar would relish in artists taking his work and having fun with it in the most irreverent way possible. I’m sure he’d walk out of the theatre and say some incredibly droll one-liner, like, 'I used to think the biggest tragedy for art was to be ignored, but now I see it is to be adapted.'

Why should audiences come to see “The Importance of Being... Earnest?”?

If there was one reason to come to our show, it's to see our lead actor's performance. Believe me, the person playing Ernest is a real hidden talent, a star in the making and a future household name. They're going to blow you away... once we find out who they are.

How would you describe The Importance of Being… Earnest? in three words? 

Hilarious. Irreverent. Magical.

The Importance of Being… Earnest? will play at The Garrick Theatre, Lichfield from Thursday 27 – Saturday 29 June 2024. To book, visit lichfieldgarrick.com.