A trivial comedy for serious people
The National Theatre’s sold-out production of The Importance of Being Earnest transfers to the Noël Coward Theatre this Autumn, in a co-production with Sonia Friedman Productions.
Directed by Max Webster (Donmar’s Macbeth; Life of Pi), this joyful and flamboyant reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s “glittering masterpiece” (The Telegraph) is a hilarious story of identity, impersonation, and romance.
Joining the previously announced Olly Alexander as Algernon Moncrieff are 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 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 adopts 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.
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Audio Described:
BSL Signed:
2hr 45min. Incl. 1 interval.
Plays, West End, Stars on Stage
18th September, 2025
10th January, 2026
This production contains strong language, suggestive content, and smoke and haze.
Director: Max Webster
Cast: Olly Alexander as Algernon Moncrieff, 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 as Lady Bracknell.
Location: West End
Railway station: Charing Cross
Bus numbers: (Charing Cross) 24, 29, 176; (Strand) 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 87, 91, 139
Night bus numbers: (Charing Cross) 24, 176, N5, N20, N29, N41, N279; (Strand) 6, 23, 139, N9, N15, N11, N13, N21, N26, N44, N47, N87, N89, N91, N155, N343, N551
Car park: St Martin's Lane Hotel (1min)
Directions from tube: (2mins) Take Cranbourn Street away from Leicester Square until St Martin’s Lane, where you head right until you reach the theatre.
Day of week | Evening |
---|---|
Monday | 7:00 PM |
Tuesday | 7:00 PM |
Wednesday | 7:00 PM |
Thursday | 7:00 PM |
Friday | 7:00 PM |
Saturday | - |
Sunday | - |
A trivial comedy for serious people.
The National Theatre's sold-out production of The Importance of Being Earnest transfers to the Noël Coward Theatre this Autumn, in a co-production with Sonia Friedman Productions.
The Importance of Being Earnest is 2hr 45min. Incl. 1 interval.
Noël Coward Theatre.
The price for tickets to The Importance of Being Earnest starts at £32.
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