The Importance of Being Earnest

The fabulous Helen Thomson plays Lady Bracknell, the wittiest and most wicked role in one of the greatest comedies ever written.

5 Sep - 14 Oct 2023

Roslyn Packer Theatre

The Play

"You may have seen The Importance of Being Earnest before, but you’ve never seen it like this." ★★★★ Cultural Binge

★★★★★ The AU Review
★★★★ The Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ Time Out
★★★★ ½ Stage Noise
★★★★ Limelight
★★★★ Suzy Goes See

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

By Oscar Wilde
Directed by Sarah Giles

A trivial comedy for serious people 

Oscar Wilde’s blazing wit gets a stylish new production from award-winning director and comedy afficionado Sarah Giles, who last had us in stitches with the madcap mid-century farce No Pay? No Way!. Sparkling with devilish quips and lush period design, this gold-standard comedy sings with contemporary relevance, shrewdly lampooning the snobbery and hypocrisy of extreme wealth and excess. 

Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff are thick as thieves. They’re also living double lives. In the quaint countryside they’re pious gents, but in the city they’re playboys with a libertine reputation. Their absurdly luxurious lifestyle, usually lived without a care in the world, is rudely interrupted when love enters the mix, and the pair struggle to keep track of who they’re pretending to be and when. 

A brilliant ensemble cast – Gareth Davies, Melissa Kahraman, Lucia Mastrantone, Brandon McClelland, Sean O'Shea, Emma O'Sullivan, Bruce Spence, Helen Thomson, Megan Wilding, Charles Wu – takes on this battle between the haves and have-nots, packed with Wilde quips and devastating one-liners. 

Widely regarded as one of the best theatrical comedies ever written, The Importance of Being Earnest is a razor-sharp and endlessly relevant reminder of our tendency to get hung up on small trivialities while the important things in life pass us by. 

Approx. duration 2 hrs 20 mins (including interval). Subject to change.
Content Cigarettes, references to self-harm. Subject to change.

VISITOR SAFETY INFORMATION

The safety of our audiences, artists and staff is of paramount importance. For full details on our safety measures please visit our Visitor Safety Information page.

Dates

Previews 5 – 8 Sep 2023
Season 11 Sep – 14 Oct 2023

Night with the Artists
Mon 18 Sep, post-show

Captioned Performances
Tue 3 Oct, 6.30pm
Sat 7 Oct, 1.30pm

Audio Described Performances
Sat 7 Oct, 1.30pm

Auslan-Interpreted Performances
Thu 5 Oct, 7.30pm

Performance start times
Preview performances 7.30pm
In-season evening performances Mon & Tue 6.30pm; Wed – Sat 7.30pm
Matinee performances Wed 1pm; Sat 1.30pm

Schools Performances

Wed 20 Sep, 11.30am. Browse our full Education program

Approx. duration 2 hrs 20 mins (including interval). Subject to change.

Ticket Information

Single tickets
Mon – Thu performances
Adult A Reserve $123
Adult B Reserve $117
Seniors card holder $117
Concession $89
Under 30 $65

Fri & Sat performances
A Reserve $129
B Reserve $123

Preview performances
All tickets $65

Groups Discount (10+ people)
Monday – Thursday
A Reserve $111

Please call the Box Office on (02) 9250 1777 to book groups.

Corporate entertainment packages are also available for this production.

Season Ticket prices
Saturday evening A Reserve $116
Adult A Reserve $110
Seniors cardholder $105
Pensioner/Student $80
Under 30 $58
Preview $58

Mini Package prices
Mon – Thu performances
Adult A Reserve $116
Adult B Reserve $111
Seniors cardholder $111
Pensioner/Student $84
Under 30 $61

Friday & Saturday performances
A Reserve $122
B Reserve $116

Preview performances
All tickets $61

Transaction fees may apply
Season Ticket bookings: no fees
Single ticket bookings: $8.50 online; $8.50 telephone; $0 Box Office counter

Prices are correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.

Concession, seniors and under 30 tickets
Suitable and valid identification must be provided for collection of tickets and at the venue, such as your concession or proof of age card. Alternatively, you may email a copy of your identification to [email protected]. Please quote your booking reference number.

Access requirements
For specific access requirements, please call Box Office on (02) 9250 1777 to book your seats. More info.

Authorised ticket sellers
The only authorised ticket sellers for this event is Sydney Theatre Company. Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered valid and reliable. More info.

Director Sarah Giles
Set Designer Charles Davis
Costume Designer Renée Mulder
Lighting Designer Alexander Berlage
Composer & Sound Designer Stefan Gregory
Assistant Director Kenneth Moraleda
Fight Director Tim Dashwood
Intimacy Coordinator Chloë Dallimore

With
Gareth Davies, Melissa Kahraman, Lucia Mastrantone, Brandon McClelland, Sean O'Shea, Emma O'Sullivan, Bruce Spence, Helen Thomson, Megan Wilding, Charles Wu

Understudy
Aaron Tsindos

Marketing image Rene Vaile

This listing is updated as cast and creatives are confirmed in the lead-up to the production, and if there are any changes to the team. Ensure you have the most up-to-date information about each play by opting in to our enews.

INSIGHT EVENTS 

We offer a range of free and ticketed events designed to give you further insight into our plays. Find out more about our Insight Events.

Pier Group Lunch
Mon 31 Jul, 12.30pm
The Theatre Bar at the End of the Wharf

"Impressive seems an inadequate description for such an elaborate set design…thoroughly entertaining" ★★★★★ The AU Review

"So funny…beautiful to behold" ★★★★ The Sydney Morning Herald

"Delightfully camp…considered, balanced and entirely in service to Wilde" ★★★★ Time Out

"Wonderful performances…decadent, whimsical and filled with zeal" ★★★★ Limelight

"A campy rocketship to funtown" News & Reviews by Bri Lee

"A fresh, riotous production" "Brilliantly entertaining theatre... Recommended without reservation." ★★★★1/2 Stage Noise

"Absolutely spellbinding" ★★★★ Suzy Goes See

"Fresh, funny and completely joyous..." "Helen Thomson’s Lady Bracknell is as brilliant as you’d expect... imperious, monstrous, and utterly hilarious." The Conversation

"A light, bubbly and absolutely joyful new interpretation of Wilde…[it] will be discussed for years to come."CityHub

"A brilliant ensemble…“Renee Mulder’s costumes are a work of art" ★★★★ Theatre Thoughts

"You may have seen The Importance of Being Earnest before, but you’ve never seen it like this." ★★★★ Cultural Binge

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