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?

Today (Saturday 24th October)

14:00

Hope 15
2h 37m | Korean w/ English subtitles
Police investigate a mysterious creature terrorising the South Korean village of Hope Harbor. Cut off and without backup, it's down to hunters, hapless cops and locals to stop it. A thrilling sci-fi creature-feature from Na Hong-jin (The Wailing).

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17:30

Anyone Can Play Guitar 12A
1h 40m
Narrated by Stewart Lee and featuring exclusive interviews with Radiohead, Foals, Supergrass, Ride and Swervedriver, Anyone Can Play Guitar tells the unheard stories of Oxford's music scene. Screening followed by a conversation with director Jon Spira.

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20:30

Digger 15
2h 9m
The most powerful man in the world is in a frantic race to prove he's humanity's saviour before the disaster he unleashed destroys everything. Tom Cruise heads up an all-star cast in Oscar-winner Alejandro González Iñárritu's sharp comic satire.

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Tomorrow (Sunday 25th October)

15:00

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast Of Mo U
1h 20m
Just before Halloween, the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch. Shaun's science experiments to fix it go wrong when a wild beast appears in the woods. Shaun the Sheep returns in a monstrously fun family adventure as Aardman turns 50.

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17:15

Digger 15
2h 9m
The most powerful man in the world is in a frantic race to prove he's humanity's saviour before the disaster he unleashed destroys everything. Tom Cruise heads up an all-star cast in Oscar-winner Alejandro González Iñárritu's sharp comic satire.

Book here

20:15

The Lost Children of Tuam 12A
1h 24m
Amateur historian Catherine Corless investigates a former home for unmarried mothers and their children in rural Ireland, and won't stop, even when it pits her against Church, State and town. Monica Dolan stars in this gripping true story.

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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!