The Importance of Being Earnest

Patricia Routledge, known to Australian audiences mainly through the BBC television series, Keeping Up Appearances and Hetty Wainthrop Investigates, is coming to Australia.

Patricia Routledge is starring in Oscar Wilde's most famous comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest. It is her first visit to Australia.
In 1999, The Importance of Being Earnest, a Chichester Festival Theatre Production, played in the West End?s Theatre Royal, Haymarket, for 17 weeks and attracted standing-room only audiences for the entire run. The critics and public alike raved about the transformation of Hyacinth Bucket to the formidable Lady Bracknell, whose presence dominated the stage.

The Importance of Being Earnest is being produced in Australia and New Zealand by Andrew Kay of International Concert Attractions in association with West End producer, Duncan C Weldon.

"This is Oscar Wilde's most celebrated play," said Andrew Kay. "I have seen it many times, but when I saw this production with Patricia Routledge in the role of Lady Bracknell, I knew I had to secure it for Australia and New Zealand," he said.

"When Patricia walks on stage for the first time, the audience is completely in her hands, and she keeps them there. It is a great experience, and it is easy to see why she was voted Favourite Actress at the BBC's 60th anniversary awards."

The season opens in Perth on July 29, Melbourne August 24, Auckland September 27 and Sydney on October 18. After the tour closes in Sydney on November 19, it will re-open in London's West End for a return season.

"We have cast six Australian actors in various roles. Four of these actors will join with the English members of the cast in the return season in London," said Andrew Kay. "We are very happy to be able to introduce London audiences to some of our finest actors, Beverley Dunn, Essie Davis, Sarah Kants and Jonathon Elsom. It is a great opportunity for them, and Director Christopher Morahan paid tribute to them when he chose them at the Australian auditions. He said 'They were born to play these roles.'"

Written by: Oscar Wilde
Director: Christopher Morahan
Designer: Peter Rice
Lighting Designer: Jamieson Lewis


Previews 27 & 28 July
Opening Night Saturday 29th July
Tuesday 8.00pm
Wednesday 2.00pm & 8.00pm
Thursday & Friday 8.00pm
Saturday 2.00pm & 8.00pm
Sunday 5.00pm
Season ends Sunday 20th August


Check the website for further details