Watch our archive recording of The Importance of Being Earnest
“The truth is rarely pure and never simple”
We were delighted to be able to share an archive recording of our 2016 Made at Curve and Birmingham Repertory Theatre co-production of Oscar Wilde’s classic play The Importance of Being Earnest with audiences whilst our theatre’s doors were closed throughout lockdowns.
Archive recordings are made by theatres so we have a full record of the productions we work on. They’re filmed on a single camera at the back of the auditorium. Although the show was never intended for public broadcast, we made this video available with captions for everyone to enjoy for a limited time.
If you’ve enjoyed watching our archive footage, please consider making a donation to Curve by clicking here.
At this time when we aren’t able to present shows at our home, any money you can spare is gratefully received. Thank you.
As a registered charity (no.230708), your support will help us ensure that our theatre remains open and can continue to serve all of our communities, both on and off our stages and online.
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Bachelor Jack Worthing and his best mate Algernon Moncrieff hope to marry society’s most eligible ladies, Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew. But the lads’ courtship of the women is far from straight forward! With double identities, plenty of ‘Bunburying’ and a number of hostile encounters with the formidable Lady Bracknell, the pair become embroiled in a web of mistaken identities with hilarious consequences
Directed by Nikolai Foster, the drama stars BAFTA and Golden Globe nominee Cathy Tyson as the indomitable Lady Bracknell, Sharan Phull as repressed romantic Cecily Cardew, Edward Franklin as upper-class playboy Algernon Moncrieff, Fela Lufadeju as the dependable John Worthing, Angela Clerkin as uptight nanny Miss Prism, Dominic Gately as the incorruptible Reverend Chasuble, Darren Bennett as the ever-faithful servants Lane and Merriman and Martha Mackintosh as prim and proper Gwendolen Fairfax.
Regarded as one of the finest comedies in the English language, Wilde’s play explodes with his trademark razor-sharp wit and is a brilliant exploration of the hypocrisies of a society where what we see on the outside is very different from what lies beneath.
CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CAST
Darren Bennett Lane and Merriman
Angela Clerkin Miss Prism
Edward Franklin Algernon Moncrieff
Dominic Gately Doctor Chasuble
Fela Lufadeju Jack Worthing
Martha Mackintosh Gwendolen Fairfax
Sharan Phull Cecily Cardew
Cathy Tyson Lady Bracknell
DIRECTOR NIKOLAI FOSTER
DESIGNER ISLA SHAW
COMPOSER DOUGAL IRVINE
LIGHTING DESIGNER BEN CRACKNELL
SOUND DESIGNER DAN HOOLE
CASTING DIRECTOR KAY MAGSON