"Little Ern"

It's a little known fact that Ernie Wise grew up in Wakefield and worked as one half of popular double act long before he met Eric Morecambe. From the age of six, Ernie toured the local working men's clubs and pubs of Wakefield, Leeds and surrounding areas with his father Harry Wiseman as one half of double act "Carson and Kid"

Aged just thirteen years old he auditioned for the world renowned band leader and theatre impresario Jack Hylton and the very same night appeared on stage with Arthur Askey. From that night on he never lived at home again...
"Little Ern" gives us a brief insight into the Wiseman household of the 1930's. With songs and sketches from the period we show what life must have been like for young Ernest Wiseman and his father before Little Ern hit the big time.

The original production of "Little Ern" was written and performed by Wakefield based actor Darren Johnson and featured his own son Joseph Johnson playing the young Ernie Wise along with actress Elizabeth Eves playing..... everyone else!

Directed by Richard Stone and with sound design by Adam McCready and Choreography by Louise Dennison, the show premiered at the Theatre Royal Wakefield in November 2019.

Photograph courtesy of Anthony Robling