Wilde twist on very much loved Victorian stage play
Avery modern take on Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is about to be beamed into your living room.
The Victorian era play has been updated to present-day Northern England.
The new version has been penned by writer and broadcaster Yasmeen Khan, and is a digital co-production by The Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield, and The Dukes, Lancaster.
Yasmeen, whose screenwriting credits includes EastEnders, has transposed the original narrative of Wilde’s classic comedy to the cobbles and stone walls of the north.
The updated narrative follows the story of struggling actor Jamil and rom-com star Algy, who come together in the pursuit of love, being true to yourself and Nando’s.
The adaptation, which will run from April 19 to May 4, is being directed by Mina Anwar, who is also playing the role of Ms Begum.
Mina said: “I’m delighted to be directing and acting in this brilliant adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Yasmeen Khan. This is my homage to the perfect hybrid of theatre and television, the studio sitcom.
“Set in the acting world, Yasmeen has blended the wit, the farce and the fabulous characters of Wilde’s original with a hilarious, contemporary and distinctively Northern flavour. To tell this story we have brought together an extraordinary team of theatre and film makers. We cannot wait to share it with the world.”
The title role of Earnest/ Jamil is being taken by Gurjeet Singh of Ackley Bridge and Wuthering Heights fame.
Tom Dixon, whose theatre credits include Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet, co-stars as Algy.
The cast is full of wellknown faces and voices from TV, radio and theatre. Hugh Dennis, perhaps best known as the dad in BBC One’s critically acclaimed sitcom Outnumbered, has been cast as Tony. He also played a memorable role as an emotionally tortured bank manager in
the BAFTA winning Fleabag TV series.
There will also be appearances from Divina De Campo, finalist of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, who is playing herself. Star of stage and screen Paul Chahidi treads the boards as international film director Steve Merriman, while actress Harriet Thorpe, who was Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous, is Algy’s agent Alison.
Comedian Sindhu Vee is also performing as daytime TV presenter, Libby.
The Importance of Being Earnest has been captured on location at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield and The Dukes in Lancaster. It is set to push the theatrical form by combining traditional theatrical techniques with film and radio play.
The people behind the scenes have done a sterling job to bring Wilde’s classic
comedy into modern times. The costume and set design has been done by Holly Pigott. Dave Bintley and Douglas Kuhrt have been involved in the sound and lighting design, respectively. While Eleri Jones and Olivia Race have shared assistant director duties.
At a time when many arts organisations went ‘dark’, the Lawrence Batley Theatre has been at the forefront of digital innovation. It set up a free online channel, LBTV, within days of lockdown and has reached more than 20,000 people. The Dukes, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has also diversified into digital during the pandemic.
Tickets cost £12 from importanceofbeingearnest. com. People will receive a link which will activate at 00:01 GMT on their booked performance date for a 48-hour period.