The Importance of Being Earnest

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From £19

Available Performances

Fri 5 Dec

19:00
Sat 6 Dec

14:00, 19:00

See this weekend's performances

🕗 2hrs 45mins🎭 Noel Coward Theatre

⭐4.7/5 based on 192 reviews

Annie Phillips ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"We loved the wacky start and end to the show and the play itself was superbly acted with spot on timing. Enjoyed it so much indeed. Congratulations to all. Brilliant ??"

23/11/2025

Suzana ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"This play is such a good fun. Then again, I'm a big Oscar Wilde's admirer. The importance of being Ernest might not be as good as some of his other works, but it's through lightness and trivial humour that comes his sharp critique of certain social values. Stephen Fry is absolutely superb so is young Alexander. I found Cicilly a bit "too modern" but, I guess, this was done purposely to appeal to the young viewers. All in all, it really made me laugh and cheered me up, whilst still leaving a bit of a bitter taste. As Wilde always does."

23/11/2025

Diane Tucker ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Best show I ever saw and I am an avid theatre goer!"

22/11/2025

Geraldine Snaith ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Fantastic Stephen Fry. Funny, entertaining. Very creative, colourful and uplifting"

21/11/2025

Amanda Zientek ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Great show and a hot ticket! Cast was awesome!"

21/11/2025

Steve Jones ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Excellent production which we really enjoyed. It was a shame that Stephen Fry wasn't in it as published - and the reason we came - however the actress who covered did a sterling job. Too marks for Ollie Alexander!"

20/11/2025

Lucy Bannister ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Incredible show. But have to lose some stars on value for money because theatre tickets are so prohibitively expensive nowadays."

19/11/2025

Charles Aram ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"The theatre was comfortable and well organised, the play is so well written that it is hard to deliver a poor show. This was a raucous rendition, very camp, exuberant. It lacked decorum and subtlety, but was very enjoyable and entertaining."

18/11/2025

Alan Hill ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"An excellent all round performance from the actors, whose "timing" was particularly good & hilariously funny. A "colourful" production to which the finale was a fitting end."

14/11/2025

David T ⭐

"Awful interpretation. Ridiculous overacting. Why the panto parade at the end? Avoid"

13/11/2025

Angie Bisson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Brilliantly flamboyant, witty and humorous. Superb cast. A great night's entertainment."

11/11/2025

Ash in London ⭐⭐

"The play itself is obviously brilliant, as is Stephen Fry's acting and presence, itself. The rest of the production with its camp and at times vulgar production, seemed a little anathema to the story itself, e.g. two gay camp actors pretending to be eager bachelors, two women with evident sexual needs keen to get married to the same gays, made for some cognitive dissonance. More vaudeville and burlesque than theatre I'd say."

11/11/2025

Karen Richards ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Fantastic performance, the cast was very strong and it’s hard to say which was our favourite moment. Oscar Wilde plays are always laugh out loud funny, but the direction embellished this amazing work. Highly recommended for anyone who needs a good laugh."

08/11/2025

Rachel Stewart ⭐⭐⭐

"While I truly loved seeing Stephen Fry as Lady Bracknell, I was in general rather underwhelmed by this show. The production as a whole felt like it had gone off the boil compared with the original cast from last year. A great deal of the wit and the comedy that is so richly abundant in the text was lost due to poor timing and a lot of overcooking. It felt stale and overdone. The scenes involving Lane and Merryman were also highly disappointing. These minor characters, offer so much scope for a spot of silliness - but sadly not in this production. I really wanted to love this show, but sadly it missed it's mark."

07/11/2025

Alev Karaali Danninger ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I love theater and try to go whenever I can afford a good play and have the opportunity. Unfortunately, I do not live in London or UK but when I am in London I try to see as much as possible. This is one of the best plays I have ever seen in my last 40 years of theater visits. The "Stephen Fry" who is magnificent to the smallest detail of her character. And the others, every single person in this play is equally worthy of my money. The best cast, please forgive me if I do not write out each name. I have not a favorite because you are all "excellent" in this play. Thank You. I wish I had more time. I would have come back for a second performance."

07/11/2025

Christine Smith ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I saw this amazing production yesterday and was blown away with this very different interpretation of this great play ! The very strong cast gave such unique and interesting characterisations so that I was entranced all the way through the running ! Well Done to all involved ."

07/11/2025

Lucy Paisley ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Fabulous production with top actors. Hilarious moments and significant camp overtones."

05/11/2025

Linda Hug ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Wonderful performances from the whole cast, superb sets and costumes. A real triumph."

03/11/2025

Alan ⭐

"The scenery was lovely The play was ruined by all the mannered performances (except for Stephen Fry) and the indications to the audience. MORE but it wouldn’t help"

02/11/2025

The National Theatre’s sold-out production of The Importance of Being Earnest transfers to the Noël Coward Theatre this Autumn, in a co-production with Sonia Friedman Productions. Directed by Max Webster’s (Donmar’s Macbeth; Life of Pi) this joyful and flamboyant reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s ‘glittering masterpiece’ (Telegraph), is a hilarious story of identity, impersonation and romance. Joining the previously announced Olly Alexander in the role of Algernon Moncrieff will be Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Jack Worthing, Hugh Dennis as Reverend 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. 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. Limited season begins 18 September.