David Suchet to star as Lady Bracknell in The Importance Of Being Earnest

It has been confirmed that David Suchet will star as Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. 

Directed by Adrian Noble (Artistic Director of the RSC from 1990-2003), the new production will open in the West End (theatre to be announced) following a short UK Tour on Wednesday 1st July 2015 (previews from 24th June 2015). The production is produced by Kim Poster for Stanhope Productions and Nica Burns.

David Suchet is one of Britain’s most respected actors on stage, screen and television. He was awarded the CBE in 2010. David is best known for his role as the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s Poirot and he has recently completed all 74 Poirot TV films which is the whole canon of Agatha Christie’s Poirot stories. 

Casting announced for The Importance of Being Earnest at the Harold Pinter Theatre

Nigel Havers / ©ITV

It has been confirmed that a new production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest will open in the West End later this year. 

The play will open at the Harold Pinter Theatre on Thursday 17th July 2014 (previews from 27th June), running until Saturday 20th September 2014.

The Importance of Being Earnest will star: Rosalind Ayres (Outnumbered, New Tricks, God and Monsters), Niall Buggy (Translations, Dead Funny, Uncle Vanya), Nigel Havers (Downton Abbey, The Life Of Rock with Brian Pern, Coronation Street), Martin Jarvis (Endeavour, Law & Order: UK, Titanic), Christine Kavanagh (Basket Case, Vera, Manchild), Cherie Lunghi (Passion Play, Secret Diary of a Call girl, The Manageress) and Siân Phillips (Marlene, The Age of Innocence, Cabaret).

Nigel Havers & Siân Phillips to star in West End revival of The Importance of Being Earnest

Lucy Bailey will direct a revival of The Importance of Being Earnest at the Harold Pinter Theatre. The production will open on 17th July 2014 (previews from 27th June) starring Nigel Havers and Siân Phillips and will tour the UK following its West End run.

The cast also features Cherie Lunghi (Passion Play), Rosalind Ayres (Outnumbered), Niall Buggy (Translations) and Christine Kavanagh (Vera).

Theatre Gossip: Stephen Fry wants Lady Bracknell costumes to impress

According to the Daily Mail, Stephen Fry is in early talks with designers John Galliano, Roland Mouret and Sarah Burton for one of them to create costumes for when he stars as Lady Bracknell in a West End production of The Importance Of Being Earnest next year. Stephen will also reportedly direct the production.

He has apparently told producers that 'he wants the sets and gowns to get applause when the curtain goes up'. It was recently announced that Stephen will make his Broadway debut in Twelfth Night alongside Mark Rylance later this year.

It has been suggested that The Importance Of Being Earnest with open at either the Theatre Royal, Haymarket or the Gielgud Theatre in Spring/Autumn 2014. 

Back in January it was rumoured that the production would open at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane (where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory recently opened to mixed reviews). At the time Stephen was quoted as saying that his Lady Bracknell is "a little bit of Alastair Sim's Miss Fritton, clutching pearls; with a mixture of Stanley Baxter's 'Duchess' of Brenda'."