National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being EarnestPG

Directed by Max Webster | UK | 2025 | 2h 50m | Starring Sharon D Clarke, Ncuti Gatwa, Hugh Skinner, Amanda Lawrence, Shereener Browne.

Three-time Olivier Award-winner Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who; Sex Education) in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy. While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate. Max Webster (Life of Pi) directs this hilarious story of identity, impersonation and romance, filmed live from the National Theatre in London.

Reviews

‘A flawless piece of comic theatre’
★★★★★
Cindy Marcolina, Broadway World

‘Ncuti Gatwa leads a Wilde party of irresistible anarchic charm’
★★★★
Arifa Akbar, The Guardian

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Earnest between March 2, 2025 and March 6, 2025.

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What else is on?

Tomorrow (Sunday 26th April)

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20:00

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1h 45m
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Monday 27th April

20:45

Heathers 15
1h 43m
Cinema Under the Stairs presents a one-off screening of Michael Lehmann’s cult-classic film, a landmark of modern American cinema that darkly reimagines the teen comedy genre. Featuring standout, career-defining performances from Winona Ryder and Christian Slater.

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Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road.We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!