The Importance of Being Earnest

The National Theatre’s sold-out production of The Importance of Being Earnest transfers to the Noel Coward Theatre this Autumn, in a co-production with Sonia Friedman Productions. Olly Alexander (It’s A Sin) plays Algernon Moncrieff in director Max Webster’s (Donmar’s Macbeth; Life of Pi) joyful and flamboyant reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s ‘glittering masterpiece’ (Telegraph), a hilarious story of identity, impersonation and romance. 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.