Meet Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, two close friends who have one solution to all of their problems – lying!

Both lead double lives … Jack uses the fake persona of ‘Ernest’ to escape his responsibilities, while Algernon invents an imaginary friend to dodge social obligations. When both men fall in love with eligible ladies, they must untangle a web of lies, misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and hilarious situations to win their hearts. Will they be able to keep up the ruse?

Considered one of Oscar Wilde’s greatest and most enduring works, The Importance of Being Earnest is a guaranteed laugh-out-loud celebration of wit, wordplay, and social satire. The familiar romp of friendship and falsehoods comes to the stage with an exciting new voice – Lady Stella Clinton, the real-life 19th Century queer trailblazer, is an addition to the production by Director Alistair Newton. Expect the visual perfection of the Victorian era, with all characters pressed and dressed in stunningly opulent designs by Judith Bowden and a strikingly vibrant and stylized production. With its clever humour and playful commentary of Victorian society, the play remains as deliciously entertaining today as it was over a century ago – if not more so.

“I am thrilled to welcome Alistair Newton to the Grand for the first time. Alistair directed the visually stunning (and sold out) production of Witness for the Prosecution at Shaw in 2024 and will bring his signature bold aesthetic to breathe fresh life into this fantastic script.”
– Rachel Peake, Artistic Director of the Grand Theatre