‘A handbag!’ Lady Bracknell is in the house and there’s no mistaking the statuesque build of Stephen Fry in new production images, by Marc Brenner, released for the West End transfer of the National Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of The Importance of Being Earnest, running for a limited season at the Noël Coward Theatre until 10 January 2026.
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.
Described as a joyful and flamboyant reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy, the production also stars Olly Alexander as Algernon Moncrieff with Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Jack Worthing, Hugh Dennis as Rev Canon Chasuble, Shobna Gulati as Miss Prism, Kitty Hawthorne as Gwendolen Fairfax, Jessica Whitehurst as Cecily Cardew and Hayley Carmichael as Merriman/Lane.
Jasmine Kerr, Sam Liu, Gillian McCafferty, Elliot Pritchard and Liv Spencer complete the cast as ensemble and understudy members.
Tickets here.
