Doctor Who star makes National Theatre Debut
- therevueuk
- May 2, 2024
- 2 min read
The National Theatre have announced the revival of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, featuring the latest Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa and West End Legend Sharon D. Clarke MBE.
Max Webster, whose production of Macbeth - starring previous Doctor Who icon David Tennant - is set to hit the West End in October, will direct this reimagined classic tale. Rufus Norris, director of the National Theatre said: "It is a joy to be welcoming Max Webster in his National Theatre directorial debut with a new production of Oscar Wilde’s hilariously subversive comedy The Importance of Being Earnest. Max has assembled an extraordinary cast to reimagine one of our greatest comedies, with Ncuti Gatwa making his National Theatre debut."
Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy play The Importance of Being Earnest is a hilarious story of class, romance, and mistaken identity. The double lives of two wealthy Victorian men unravel in a farcically tangled web of engagements and deceit, culminating in surprising revelations and riotous consequences. Gatwa plays Algernon Moncreif with Clarke taking on the role of Lady Bracknell - a far cry from her recent turn in Caroline, or Change on Broadway for which she earned an Olivier Award and Tony nomination.
Joining Gatwa and Clarke will be Richard Cant (Stan & Ollie) as Reverend Canon Chasuble, Amanda Lawrence (Angels in America) as Miss Prism, and Hugh Skinner (W1A) as Jack Worthing. Further casting is yet to be announced.
Amongst the creative team, Rae Smith will design set and costume, with lighting design by Jon Clark, sound design by Nicola T Chang, composition by DJ Walde, movement direction by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille and casting by Alastair Coomer.
The Importance of Being Earnest opens at the Lyttelton Theatre from 20th November 2024 to 25th January 2025.