(AGENPARL) – Fri 06 June 2025 THE NATIONAL THEATRE’S SOLD-OUT PRODUCTION OF
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
TO TRANSFER TO THE WEST END THIS AUTUMN IN A
CO-PRODUCTION WITH SONIA FRIEDMAN PRODUCTIONS
FEATURING OLLY ALEXANDER IN THE ROLE OF
ALGERNON MONCRIEFF
Image © Danny Kasirye
The National Theatre announces today that its sold-out, critically acclaimed production of
The Importance of Being Earnest will transfer to the West End this autumn in a coproduction with Sonia Friedman Productions. This ‘bold and brash Wilde reboot’ (★★★★
The Times) will run for a limited season at the Noël Coward Theatre, a Delfont Mackintosh
Theatre, from 18 September 2025 until 10 January 2026. Tickets will go on sale to the
general public on Monday 16 June at 12pm with over 20,000 tickets available for under £30
across the run.
This ‘sparkling new production’ (★★★★★ Daily Mail) directed by Max Webster, is a joyful
and flamboyant reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy.
Actor and singer-songwriter, Olly Alexander (It’s a Sin, Channel 4; White Rabbit, Red
Rabbit, @sohoplace) will play the role of Algernon Moncrieff in Webster’s ‘wildly exuberant,
hot pink staging of The Importance of Being Earnest (★★★★ FT) with further casting to be
announced.
Olly Alexander, singer, songwriter, actor, fashion icon and activist said:
“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. He was a pioneer of LGBTQ+ rights before such a thing existed and I’m so excited
and proud to get the chance to inhabit his work.”
Max Webster, director said:
“I am ecstatic that The Importance of Being Earnest is transferring to the West End starring
the brilliant Olly Alexander this September for a winter run. The creative team and I really
wanted to honour Oscar Wilde’s life and work and celebrate his legendary wit, fabulousness
and imaginative freedom with this production. 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. I can’t wait to share this production again, with
audiences in the West End, and am especially excited to work with Olly who I am certain will
create a new and fabulous take on Wilde’s iconic character Algenon Moncreiff.”
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.
Olly Alexander is a singer, songwriter, actor and producer. Other screen work includes The
Riot Club (Universal Pictures), Bright Star (Warner Bros) and Skins (E4). Other theatre work
includes Peter and Alice (West End), The Aliens (Bush Theatre) and Mercury Fur (Old Red
Lion/Trafalgar Studios). Between 2010–2023, Olly Alexander performed and recorded
music under the name Years & Years. As Years & Years, he achieved two number one UK
albums, ten UK Top 40 singles, was nominated for six BRIT Awards, and awarded the BRIT
Billion Award. Albums include Communion, Palo Santo and Night Call as Years & Years
and Polari, under his own name. In 2024, Olly Alexander represented the United Kingdom in
the Eurovision Song Contest with his song Dizzy.
Max Webster is an award-winning theatre director, specialising in spectacular new work,
opera and live music events. Recent acclaimed productions include Macbeth (Donmar
Warehouse/West End), Life of Pi (Sheffield Theatres/West End/Broadway), Henry V
(Donmar Warehouse) and The Lorax (Old Vic). He was Associate Director at the Old Vic
from 2015 until 2019 and at the Donmar Warehouse from 2020 until 2024.
‘This exuberant production (★★★★ The i) also features set and costume designer Rae
Smith, lighting designer Jon Clark, sound designer Nicola T. Chang, movement director
Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, composer DJ Walde, physical comedy advisor Joyce Henderson,
intimacy coordinator Ingrid Mackinnon, casting director Alastair Coomer CDG, dialect
coach Hazel Holder and voice coach Shereen Ibrahim in the creative team.
Webster’s ‘Wilde party of irresistible anarchic charm’ (★★★★ The Guardian) was first
performed in the Lyttelton Theatre from 21 November 2024 until 25 January 2025. Following
a sold-out run at the National Theatre, it was subsequently released to cinemas worldwide
through National Theatre Live. Over 165,000 people in the UK have watched ‘this joyous
production’ (★★★★ The i).
The Importance of Being Earnest in the West End is supported by American Express, the
National Theatre’s Official Payment Partner.
For further information, please contact Clare McCormack, Head of Press and
FURTHER PRESS MATERIALS
New Marketing Image available here
Portraits of Olly Alexander as Algernon Moncrieff here
Teaser video available here
Headshot available here and Bio is available here
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Dates: Thursday 18 September 2025 – Saturday 10 January 2026
Press Night: Tuesday 30 September 2025 at 7pm
Website: http://www.EarnestOnStage.com
Address: Noël Coward Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London, WC2N 4AU
Performance Schedule: Mondays – Saturday, 7pm evening performance with 2pm matinee
performances on Thursdays and Saturdays
*schedule may differ during previews and holidays, please see website for details
Assisted Performances:
Captioned Performances: Tuesday 18 November 2025 at 7pm & Saturday 3 January 2026
at 2pm
Audio Described Performances: Thursday 27 November 2025 at 7pm & Saturday 13
December 2025 at 2pm
BSL Performances: Saturday 22 November 2025 at 2pm & Thursday 11 December at 7pm
Tickets: from £25
Box Office:
(lines open Monday to Friday 9:30am – 6pm, and Saturdays 10am – 6pm)
(lines open Monday to Saturday 10am – 7.30pm)
Running Time: 2 hours 45mins