The Importance of Being Earnest

About The Importance of Being Earnest

The National Theatre’s ‘exuberant, joyous and celebratory’ (Financial Times) production of The Importance of Being Earnest is now playing at the Noël Coward Theatre, in a co-production with Sonia Friedman Productions.

Directed by Max Webster (Donmar’s Macbeth; Life of Pi) this ‘gloriously frivolous’ (Daily Mail) reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s ‘glittering masterpiece’ (Telegraph), is a hilarious story of identity, impersonation and romance, that is ‘outrageously camp, flamboyantly queer and ludicrously entertaining’ (Broadway World).

With an all-star cast including Olly Alexander in the role of Algernon Moncrieff alongside Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Jack Worthing, Hugh Dennis as Reverend Canon Chasuble, Shobna Gulati as Miss Prism, Kitty Hawthorne as Gwendolen Fairfax, Jessica Whitehurst as Cecily Cardew, Hayley Carmichael as Merriman/Lane, and Stephen Fry in his ‘scene-stealing turn’ (The Stage) as Lady Bracknell.

Being sensible can be excessively boring. At least Jack thinks so. While assuming the role of dutiful guardian in the country, he lets loose in town under a false identity.

Meanwhile, his friend Algy takes on a similar facade. Unfortunately, living a double life has its drawbacks, especially when it comes to love. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.

Limited season now playing until 10 January.

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As St Martin’s Lane will become a pedestrian only zone until 31 October – part of the Mayor of London’s Summer Streets initiative to boost al fresco dining across the capital - there will be no vehicle access to the Noël Coward Theatre between the hours of 11am and 11pm. Please allow extra time for your journey to the theatre or arrive early to soak up the atmosphere before the show. Access patrons who require vehicle entry in order to attend should email access@delfontmackintosh.co.uk.