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...Earnest? - Tour Dates

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UK Tour
Final performance: 14 June 2026

The hit comedy …Earnest?, inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, completed its UK tour on 14 June 2026 following a hugely popular run across the country.

Visitors searching for …Earnest? tickets should note that the tour has now finished.

A Hilarious Twist on Oscar Wilde

Following its smash-hit success at the Edinburgh Fringe, …Earnest? delighted audiences with a wildly inventive take on Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy The Importance of Being Earnest.

In this anarchic production, everything begins to unravel when the lead actor in a traditional staging of Wilde’s play suddenly goes missing. With the performance about to collapse, a desperate director pulls an unsuspecting audience member onto the stage.

What follows is a riot of improvisation, unexpected mishaps and audience participation, where every performance becomes a completely unique theatrical experience.

No two shows are ever the same — and the chaos is all part of the fun.

Why Audiences Loved …Earnest?

Fans of The Play That Goes Wrong and Noises Off found plenty to enjoy in this high-energy comedy.

Each performance delivered:

  • Unpredictable Comedy
    The script is constantly flipped and reinvented, creating fresh surprises every night.
  • Audience Involvement
    From the stalls to the stage, audience members may suddenly find themselves at the centre of the action.
  • Unstoppable Energy
    Packed with improvisation, mishaps and quick-thinking performances, the show is a whirlwind of theatrical chaos.

The Inspiration: The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, first performed in 1895, remains one of the most celebrated comedies ever written.

A sharp satire of Victorian society, the play is renowned for its sparkling dialogue, mistaken identities and witty observations about love, class and social expectations.

The story follows Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, two bachelors who invent alter egos named “Ernest” in order to escape social obligations and pursue romance. Their deception leads to a cascade of misunderstandings, revelations and unforgettable comic moments.

Classic lines from The Importance of Being Earnest

  • “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
    – Algernon Moncrieff reflecting on the complexities of life and human relationships.
  • “In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.”
    – Gwendolen Fairfax on the Victorian obsession with appearances.
  • “To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”
    – Lady Bracknell delivering one of the play’s most iconic, cutting remarks.
  • “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train.”
    – Gwendolen, highlighting Wilde’s knack for humorous self-absorption.
  • “I can resist everything except temptation.”
    – Algernon, exemplifying Wilde’s penchant for paradoxical wit.
  • “All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his.”
    – Algernon, offering a mix of humor and critique of gender norms.
  • “I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever nowadays.”
    – Jack Worthing, lamenting the pretense of intelligence in society.
  • “A handbag?”
    – Lady Bracknell’s incredulous response to Jack’s revelation about his origins, a line that has become legendary for its delivery.

When a traditional production of Oscar Wilde’s classic play gets underway, everything seems to be going perfectly to plan… that is, until the lead actor fails to arrive on cue and an actual audience member is chosen to star in the show.

What follows is a madcap medley of impromptu games and spontaneous solutions as the desperate director does his best to keep this faithful production going. But with stage whiskey being swapped, off-the-cuff auditions being held and muffins being eaten (no matter what state they’re in), there’s just no telling what this unique version of The Importance of Being Earnest is going to throw up. Especially when more audience members are drafted in to replace an ever-thinning cast… With the script ripped up and rewritten, can the show reach its fabulous finale, just as Oscar Wilde intended?

This one-of-a-kind comedy sensation is completely different, completely chaotic, and completely Wilde every single night. And who knows, you might even become a star yourself!

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Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of ...Earnest??

The cast of …Earnest are: Judith Amsenga as Eleanor, Ashley Cavender as George, Guido Garcia Lueches as Terry, Josh Haberfield as Simon Slough, Ben Mann as Josh, Trynity Silk as Jennifer and Rhys Tees as Graham.

Who are the creative team of ...Earnest??

Written by Josh King, Simon Paris and Say It Again, Sorry? |

Directed by Simon Paris, Set design by Trynity Silk, Lighting design by Catja Hamilton, Sound design by Max Pappenheim and Costume design by Libby Watson.   

Produced by Simon Paris

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, ...Earnest? has matinee performances on the following days:
No, sorry, ...Earnest? has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.

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