Say It Again, Sorry?, Cuffe & Taylor and Live Nation presents:
…Earnest?
When the actor playing Ernest doesn’t show, it leads to a tumultuous twist on Oscar Wilde’s classic play with audience members taking centre stage
Written by Josh King, Simon Paris and Say It Again, Sorry? | Directed by Simon Paris
UK TOUR 16 February – 14 June 2025
“A delightfully interactive, uproariously funny approximation of a familiar script. This show is a feast for theatre-goers of all levels of experience” The Skinny (on The Importance Of Being… Earnest?)
In a madcap spectacle that promises a completely new performance each night, the Edinburgh Fringe smash-hit where the audience step in for the cast of The Importance of Being Earnest returns for a UK tour of nearly 30 venues. Wilde’s much-loved play is delightfully derailed as audience members are asked to step into the spotlight to replace an ever-thinning cast, sparked by the lead actor playing Ernest failing to arrive on that famous cue. With stage whiskey being swapped, off-the-cuff auditions being held and portraits painted aplenty, ...Earnest? incorporates skilled slapstick and expert improv in this quintessentially British farce. Its innovative format aims to provide joy and connect audiences to their inner thespian.
The Importance of Being… Earnest? (now renamed to …Earnest?) premiered at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2021 and returned for the three years following. The hour-long production has been extended into a full two act run for the UK tour. So far, the show has cast almost 2,000 audience members, proving that everyone, no matter their background or experience, has a place in the spotlight. Audience members have shared stories of quitting their jobs to chase acting dreams, local individuals stepping onto the stage for the first time and becoming community stars, and even strangers finding love after being cast and meeting backstage.
Say It Again, Sorry? revolutionised theatre funding for …Earnest? by introducing micro-units, smaller, low risk, investment chunks that made investing accessible to first-time backers and those who typically contribute to crowd-funding campaigns. This inventive model ensured all investors saw a profit, regardless of unit size, encouraging repeat investment. It’s one of many ways Say It Again, Sorry? has broadened participation in their artistic and financial processes.
Director and co-writer Simon Paris said “We are very excited to bring …Earnest? back to audiences across the country and share our unique blend of chaos, comedy, and heartfelt storytelling. This show celebrates the magic of live theatre- where anything can happen and often does. With its playful twists and interactive surprises, we invite audiences to step into a world where every moment is delightfully unpredictable.”
Founded in 2018 by a group of friends, Say It Again, Sorry? is an award-winning (Derek Award for Best Comedy) interactive theatre company that aims to connect people to their inner artist and inspire creative expression in everybody. Their vision is for the public to recover ownership over their own creative power and contribute to the future of theatre as active participants, collaborators, and decision-makers.
Running Time: 120 mins (not inc interval) | Recommended for ages 12+
Company information
Director Simon Paris Writers Josh King, Simon Paris and Say It Again, Sorry?
Set designer Trynity Silk Lighting designer Catja Hamilton
Sound designer Max Pappenheim Costume designer Libby Watson Producer Simon Paris
Cast
Eleanor Judith Amsenga
George Ashley Cavender
Terry Guido Garcia Lueches
Simon Slough Josh Haberfield
Josh Ben Mann
Jennifer Trynity Silk
Graham Rhys Tees
Listings information
16 February – 14 June 2025
MORE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED
Press welcome to all performances from 22 February
19 February Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage
Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ
7.30pm | From £19.50
22 – 23 February Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
Lichfield St, Wolverhampton WV1 1DE
7.30pm & 3pm | From £19.50
25 – 26 February Exeter Northcott Theatre
Stocker Rd, Exeter EX4 4QB
7.30pm & 2.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01392 726363
27 Feb – 1 March Lighthouse Poole
21 Kingland Rd, Poole BH15 1UG
7.45pm & 2.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01202 280000
6 – 8 March MAST Mayflower Studios
142 – 144 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7DU
7.30pm & 2.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 02380 711811
10 – 11 March Darlington Hippodrome
Parkgate, Darlington DL1 1RR
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01325 405405
22 – 23 March Palace Theatre, Southend
430 London Rd, Southend-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 9LA
7.30pm & 3pm | From £19.50
Contact: 0343 3100030
27 – 30 March Forum Theatre, Malvern Theatres
Grange Rd, Great Malvern, Malvern WR14 3HB
7.30pm, 2.30pm & 3pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01684 892277
1 April Hull Truck Theatre
50 Ferensway, Hull HU2 8LB
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01482 323638
11 – 12 April Princess Theatre, Torquay
Torbay Rd, Torquay TQ2 5EZ
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01803 211211
16 April The Grand Theatre & Opera House Leeds
46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 0113 243 0808
23 – 24 April Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
Theatre Square, Nottingham NG1 5ND
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 0115 989 5555
28 – 30 April Loughborough Town Hall
39-40 Market Pl, Loughborough LE11 3EB
7.30pm | From £19.50
2 May New Victoria Theatre, Woking
The Ambassadors, The Peacocks Centre, Woking GU21 6GQ
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 0844 871 7627
7 – 8 May Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle
109-113 Westgate Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4AG
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01912 431171
9 – 10 May King’s Theatre, Glasgow
297 Bath St, Glasgow G2 4JN
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 0333 009 6690
12 –13 May Lyceum Theatre, Crewe
Heath St, Crewe CW1 2DA
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 03433 100050
17 May The Alexandra, Birmingham
Suffolk Queensway, Birmingham, West Midlands, B5 4DS
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01212 309077
20 – 21 May Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
55 Norfolk St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 1DA
7.30pm & 3pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01142 496000
22 – 23 May Wycombe Swan Theatre, High Wycombe
St Mary St, High Wycombe HP11 2XE
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 03433 100060
24 – 25 May Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
University Of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL
7.30pm & 3pm | From £19.50
Contact: 02476 496000
28 – 29 May Theatre Royal Brighton
New Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1SD
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 0844 871 7627
31 May The Hexagon, Reading
Queens Walk, Berkshire RG1 7QF
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01189 606060
4 – 5 June Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Exchange St, Aylesbury HP20 1UG
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01296 745100
6 – 7 June Mercury Theatre, Colchester
Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT
7.30pm & 2.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01206 573948
9 June Royal & Derngate, Northampton
19-21 Guildhall Rd, Northampton NN1 1DP
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01604 624811
10 June Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
10 Regent St, Cheltenham GL50 1HQ
7.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 01242 572573
12 – 14 June Richmond Theatre, London
1 Little Green, Richmond TW9 1QJ
7.30pm & 2.30pm | From £19.50
Contact: 020 8332 4500
Social media
Twitter: @SayItAgainSorry
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