The Importance of Being Earnest Harold Pinter Revival

Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest will be revived at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 27 Jun 2014, ahead of a UK National tour.

The classic comedy will star Nigel Havers and Siân Phillips and will be directed by Lucy Bailey. Produced by 'The Bunbury Company of Players' who specialise in late 19th Century and early 20th Century light comedy, the production will feature designs by William Dudley.

Nigel Havers is familiar with television audiences thanks to recent roles in 'Downton Abbey' and 'Coronation Street'. Siân Phillips has starred in stage productions of 'Cabaret', 'The Age of Innocence' and 'Marlene' for which she was nominated for the Olivier and Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. They will be joined by Rosalind Ayres (Outnumbered, New Tricks), Niall Buggy (Uncle Vanya, Dead Funny), Martin Jarvis (Endeavour, Law & Order: UK), Christine Kavanagh (Basket Case, Vera) and Cherie Lunghi (Passion Play, Secret Diary of a Call Girl).

The Importance of Being Earnest is known as "a trivial comedy for serious people" and is one of Oscar Wilde's most performed comedies. It follows the story of two upper class bachelors, Algernon Moncrieff and John Worthing, who both create alternative identities in order to persue their intended love interests. Carefully satirising Victoiran 'polite' society, it features some of the most famous lines in English literature.

This new production runs at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 27 June until 20 Sep 2014 (updated 21 March 2014: was 25 October 2014 but changed), ahead of a UK tour.