Olly Alexander, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Hugh Dennis and the cast of The Importance of Being Earnest are now in rehearsals ahead of the show’s launch at the Noël Coward Theatre this month.
Directed by Max Webster, this reboot of the Oscar Wilde play sees Alexander star as Algernon Moncrieff, with Stewart-Jarrett as Jack Worthing, Dennis as Rev 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. Jasmine Kerr, Sam Liu, Gillian McCafferty, Elliot Pritchard and Liv Spencer complete the cast as ensemble and understudy members.
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.
The creative team includes set and costume designer Rae Smith, lighting designer Jon Clark, sound designer Nicola T Chang, movement director Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, composer DJ Walde and casting director Alastair Coomer. They are joined by associate director Aaliyah McKay, associate set designer Tim Blazdell, associate costume designer Johanna Coe, associate lighting designer Hector Murray and associate sound designer Chris Reid.
They are joined by physical comedy advisor Joyce Henderson, intimacy coordinator Ingrid Mackinnon and voice and dialect coach Kate Godfrey.
Webster’s production was first performed in the National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre from November 21, 2024, until January 25, 2025. It is a National Theatre production coproduced with Sonia Friedman Productions, No Guarantees, Winkler & Smalberg and Playing Field.
The Importance of Being Earnest will run for a limited season at the Noël Coward Theatre from September 18, 2025, until January 10, 2026. Tickets here.
Top image: The cast in rehearsals. Credit Marc Brenner (all images supplied)