{"id":302250,"date":"2025-07-29T21:47:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T21:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/302250\/"},"modified":"2025-07-29T21:47:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T21:47:11","slug":"stephen-fry-to-play-lady-bracknell-in-the-importance-of-being-earnest-in-the-west-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/302250\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Fry to play Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest in the West End"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stephen Fry<\/a><\/strong> has announced that he is set to join the cast of the National Theatre\u2019s hit revival of The Importance of Being Earnest<\/strong><\/a> in the West End.<\/p>\n

Following a sold-out run at the National Theatre earlier this year, Oscar Wilde\u2019s comedy The Importance of Being Earnest will transfer to the No\u00ebl Coward Theatre in London, running from 8 September 2025 until 10 January 2026.<\/p>\n

The production is directed by Max Webster<\/a><\/strong> (Macbeth<\/a>, Life of Pi, One Day The Musical<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Already announced in the cast is pop star and actor Olly Alexander<\/a><\/strong> (It\u2019s a Sin), who will play Algernon Moncrieff.<\/p>\n

Stephen Fry announced the news on Alan Carr\u2019s \u201cLife\u2019s a Beach\u201d podcast<\/a>, saying that, \u201cI was delighted to be asked by Sonia Friedman, the producer, who is co-producing the National Theatre\u2019s transfer of their production of The Importance of Being Earnest to the West End, starting in September. And I am to play the part of Lady Bracknell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fry went on to say that \u201chugely looking forward to it. It is a play that changed my life when I first saw it when I was 10, 11, 12, and understood something of what language can do, it just absolutely transported me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stephen Fry has long wanted to play Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest. A 2014 production of the play <\/a>produced by David Pugh was announced back in 2013, and set to star Fry as Bracknell, although sadly the production was cancelled.<\/p>\n

The part of Lady Bracknell was originally played in this National Theatre production by Sharon D Clarke<\/strong><\/a> (Lost Boys and Fairies, Ma Rainey\u2019s Black Bottom, Doctor Who).<\/p>\n

That production also saw Ncuti Gatwa<\/a> (Born with Teeth<\/a>, Doctor Who, Sex Education) as Algernon Moncrieff, Hugh Skinner<\/a> (W1A, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) as Jack Worthing, Ronk\u1eb9 Ad\u00e9k\u1ecdlu\u1eb9\u0301j\u1ecd\u0301<\/strong> (Rain Dogs, Blues for an Alabama Sky) as Gwendolen Fairfax and Eliza Scanlen<\/strong> (Little Women, Sharp Objects) as Cecily Cardew.<\/p>\n

Further casting for the West End is to be announced.<\/p>\n

Also today, Tatler magazine released photos<\/a> of Olly Alexander as their cover star for September.<\/p>\n

Webster\u2019s production was a huge crowd-pleaser when it premiered at the National Theatre, and enjoyed a slew of positive reviews from the critics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Importance of Being Earnest. Olly Alexander as Algernon. Photo Danny Kasirye<\/p>\n

Oscar Wilde\u2019s play is widely considered one of the wittiest in the English language.<\/p>\n

In the story, while assuming the role of dutiful guardian in the country, Jack 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.<\/p>\n

Max Webster is joined in the creative team by set and costume designer Rae Smith, lighting designer Jon Clark, sound designer Nicola T. Chang, music compositions by DJ Walde, movement director Carrie-Anne Ingrouille,\u00a0physical comedy advisor Joyce Henderson, intimacy coordinator Ingrid Mackinnon, casting director Alastair Coomer CDG, dialect coach Hazel Holder, and voice coach Shereen Ibrahim.<\/p>\n

The show is produced in the West End by the National Theatre and Sonia Friedman Productions.<\/p>\n

Booking tickets to The Importance of Being Earnest<\/p>\n

The Importance of Being Earnest\u00a0is playing at the No\u00ebl Coward Theatre in London from 8 September 2025 until 10 January 2026.<\/p>\n

Book tickets to\u00a0The Importance of Being Earnest\u00a0at the National Theatre London<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Importance of Being Earnest<\/p>\n

Noel Coward Theatre,\u00a0London<\/p>\n

Book tickets<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0Main photo: The Importance of Being Earnest to star Stephen Fry (Photo David Levene)<\/p>\n

Related News<\/p>\n

More ><\/p>\n

<\/a> Latest News<\/p>\n

More ><\/p>\n

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