The National Theatre today announced that its critically acclaimed, sold-out production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest will transfer to the West End this autumn. In a co-production with Sonia Friedman Productions, this "bold and brash Wilde reboot" (???? The Times) is set for a limited season at the Noël Coward Theatre, a Delfont Mackintosh Theatre, running from September 18, 2025, until January 10, 2026. Tickets for the general public go on sale Monday, June 16, at 12 PM, with over 20,000 tickets priced under £30 across the run.
This "sparkling new production" (????? Daily Mail), directed by Max Webster, offers a joyful and flamboyant reimagining of Wilde’s most celebrated comedy. Joining the cast in a highly anticipated turn is actor and singer-songwriter Olly Alexander (It’s a Sin, Channel 4), who will take on the role of Algernon Moncrieff. Further casting for Webster’s "wildly exuberant, hot pink staging" (???? FT) will be announced soon.
Olly Alexander expressed his excitement about returning to the West End stage: “I’m over the moon to be returning to a West End stage to take on the fabulous role of Algernon Moncrieff in Oscar Wilde’s most fun and favoured play. I’ve always hugely admired Wilde - he’s a true icon, not only a hugely successful and influential 19th-century writer but also a trailblazing queer artist who fearlessly pushed against the expectations of society.”
Director Max Webster added, "I am ecstatic that The Importance of Being Earnest is transferring to the West End starring the brilliant Olly Alexander... We found that the play felt amazingly fresh and contemporary, and there was an incredible audience response night after night during its original run at the National Theatre."
The play follows Jack, who, while maintaining a dutiful facade in the country, assumes a false identity to enjoy a freer life in town. His friend Algy adopts a similar ruse. However, their double lives quickly lead to a tangled web of lies, particularly when love enters the equation, forcing the gentlemen to navigate their deceptions carefully.
Having enjoyed a sold-out run at the National Theatre's Lyttelton Theatre from November 2024 to January 2025, and subsequently released to cinemas worldwide through National Theatre Live, this "joyous production" (???? The i) has already been seen by over 165,000 people in the UK. The West End transfer, supported by American Express, promises to continue its success.
