Olly Alexander returns to the Noel Coward Theatre in Max Webster’s acclaimed production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest
Oh, pleasure, pleasure! What else should bring one anywhere?
The National Theatre’s acclaimed production of Oscar Wilde’s comedy The Importance of Being Earnest is transferring to the West End.
The Importance of Being Earnest will run at the Noel Coward Theatre in London from 8 September 2025 until 10 January 2026.
Directed by Max Webster (Macbeth, Life of Pi, One Day The Musical), this joyful and flamboyant reimagining of Wilde’s classic comedy will star pop singer and actor Olly Alexander (It’s a Sin) as Algernon Moncrieff.
The part of Algernon in this production was originally played at the National by Ncuti Gatwa. Ncuti recently completed playing Doctor Who on TV, and will also appear in the West End this autumn, starring as playwright Christopher Marlowe in the RSC’s Born With Teeth at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London, alongside Edward Bluemel as Shakespeare.
Olly Alexander’s performance in the Importance of Being Earnest isn’t his West End debut. The actor and pop star is actually returning to the Noel Coward Theatre after appearing there in 2013, in Michael Grandage’s production of Peter & Alice starring Dame Judi Dench and Ben Whishaw.
Olly Alexander’s acting career also includes an acclaimed performance in Channel 4 drama It’s a Sin. As a pop star, he was the frontman of the successful band Years & Years, and as a solo artist he represented Britain at last year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Read more about Olly Alexander.
Further casting for The Importance of Being Earnest is to be announced.
The show’s run at the National Theatre also starred Sharon D Clarke (Lost Boys and Fairies, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Doctor Who) as Lady Bracknell, Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who, Sex Education) as Algernon Moncrieff, Hugh Skinner (W1A, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) as Jack Worthing, Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ (Rain Dogs, Blues for an Alabama Sky) as Gwendolen Fairfax and Eliza Scanlen (Little Women, Sharp Objects) as Cecily Cardew.
Casting also featured Richard Cant (Stan & Ollie, Mary Queen of Scots) as Reverend Canon Chasuble, and Amanda Lawrence (Star Wars: Episode – IX The Rise of Skywalker, Angels in America) as Miss Prism.
The production proved to be a huge crowd-pleaser at the National Theatre, and also a hit with London’s theatre critics – read a round-up of The Importance of Being Earnest reviews, including five stars from the Daily Mail, and a slew of four-star reviews from critics at the Guardian, Times, TimeOut and more.
Joining director Max Webster in the creative team are 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, physical comedy advisor Joyce Henderson, intimacy coordinator Ingrid Mackinnon, casting director Alastair Coomer CDG, dialect coach Hazel Holder, and voice coach Shereen Ibrahim.
Photos: The Importance of Being Earnest
Photos from Max Webster’s original National Theatre production
Oscar Wilde’s play is widely considered one of the wittiest in the English language.
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.
The Importance of Being Earnest is produced in the West End by the National Theatre and Sonia Friedman Productions.
The Importance of Being Earnest is playing at the Noel Coward Theatre in London from 8 September 2025 until 10 January 2026.
More about tickets to The Importance of Being Earnest at the National Theatre
Also see: The National Theatre’s new 2025-2026 season
What They Said
Olly Alexander, singer, songwriter, actor, fashion icon and activist said in a statement: “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.”
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