Meet The Cast: Christopher Biggins

Our latest ‘Meet The Cast’ Q&A is with our Rev. Chasuble in Windsor On Air: The Importance of Being Earnest – national treasure Christopher Biggins!

Why do you think Oscar Wilde’s work has stood the test of time?

Oscar Wilde’s work has stood the test of time because it is so witty. It is fantastic dialogue, and I think, funnily enough, this idea of putting on a Radio Play in the 40s and 50s is brilliant, especially I think for this play. It is so wonderful, and it’s just something where you can listen to the dialogue and really enjoy it for what it is. It’s witty, it’s very up to date and it’s just fantastic. I think it’s a wonderful, wonderful play which will continue on for even more centuries!

Which is your favourite of the Wilde plays you have performed in?

Well I’ve done here a full-works stage production of Lady Windermere’s Fan, which I loved. We had a great cast, Liza Goddard was in it and Fenella Fielding, it was just wonderful and we had a great, great season. We went on tour with it, it was wonderful so I think that’s probably my favourite having been in it. This show comes as a close second!

Have you ever performed in a Radio Play before, and how are you finding the experience of it?

Yes I have, I’ve done quite a bit of radio. In fact, tomorrow I’m going up to Radio 4, they’re picking me up at 10.30am to do a radio play funnily enough. So I’m doing that tomorrow and then coming back here in the afternoon. It’s brilliant! I love radio, I listen to it all the time in my car, I don’t listen to it at home but in my car I like background music and it’s great to listen to plays. It’s really entertaining, a very good way of experiencing a play.

What was the last performance you went to see?

Cameron Mackintosh is a very close friend of mine, and he has eight theatres in the West End. He had a production in his theatre of To Kill a Mockingbird. That was the last play I saw and it was wonderful to go back to the West End after it having had such a terrible time during Covid. Musicals are always popular, but plays are very rare and to see a play in the West End was just wonderful. To see it magnificently done was truly wonderful, and such a classic story too.

How are you finding being back in Windsor for the week?

I love Windsor! I think it’s a fantastic place, I’m staying in a lovely local hotel near the theatre so it’s easy to get to. The theatre is magnificent, I love the fact that we have so many beautiful dressing rooms. My only gripe with Windsor, and it’s a big one, is that all the local restaurants have taken their last orders before the performance is finished so there’s nowhere for us to eat!

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