The comedy of love, manners and mistaken identity
Come and laugh – for the first time or the umpteenth – at Wilde’s dazzling wit, eat the cucumber sandwiches especially prepared for Lady Bracknell and – yes – be shocked to hear of a baby found in a handbag
Undisputedly one of the finest comedic plays in the history of theatre, The Importance of Being Earnest is Oscar Wilde at his most witty, brilliantly inventive and socially observant. The remarkable wordplay is timeless and is perfectly delivered in this stunning production by London’s Rose Theatre Kingston which continues to draw accolades under the artistic directorship of Stephen Unwin.
Wilde’s play follows the antics of two young gentlemen who create false personas so they can escape their otherwise humdrum lives and live with carefree abandon. However, the resulting romantic entanglements become ever more complicated. Utterly hilarious, this is an unmissable opportunity to see a great British masterpiece come to life on stage.
Related Festival PLUS programme(s)
Artist Encounters: A Reading
Approx 2 hrs 15 mins incl two intervals
Performed in English with Chinese surtitles
Photo CreditsAlastair Muir (Production photos)
Written by
OSCAR WILDE
Artistic Director
STEPHEN UNWIN
Director Emeritus
PETER HALL
The Hong Kong cast may be different from the original cast featured on this website.
Stephen Unwin and Peter Hall
Stephen Unwin is Artistic Director of Rose Theatre Kingston and founded English Touring Theatre. Sir Peter Hall is Director Emeritus of the Rose, he founded the UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company (1960-1968), and was director of England’s National Theatre (1973-1988).
