A Scottish actor is set to make his debut in a National Theatre production, re-imagining an Oscar Wilde classic.
Rising star Ncuti Gatwa is set to star in a new adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s comedy The Importance of Being Earnest.
The 31-year-old Edinburgh actor, who is also an alumnus of Glasgow’s Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, will portray the idle gentleman Algernon Moncrieff alongside W1A actor Hugh Skinner, who will portray the protagonist, Jack Worthing.
Gatwa has risen to fame in recent years for his roles in Sex Education and Barbie. He has also just taken over the role of Doctor Who.
The play, first performed in 1895, follows Jack, who assumes the role of a dutiful guardian in the country but lets loose in the town under the false identity of a man named Ernest.
His close friend Algernon has also created a similar facade as he pretends he has an ill friend named Bunbury in the country who he visits when he wants to avoid social obligations.
Their double lives have their drawbacks, especially when it comes to love.
As the gentlemen hope to impress two eligible ladies, they find themselves caught in a web of lies from which they must carefully navigate.
The cast also sees Mary Queen Of Scots actor Richard Cant play Reverend Canon Chasuble, Doctor Who actress Sharon D Clarke as Lady Bracknell and Star Wars’ Amanda Lawrence as Miss Prism.
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Rufus Norris, director of the National Theatre, said: “It is a joy to be welcoming Max Webster in his National Theatre directorial debut with a new production of Oscar Wilde’s hilariously subversive comedy The Importance of Being Earnest.
“Max has assembled an extraordinary cast to reimagine one of our greatest comedies, with Ncuti Gatwa making his National Theatre debut.
“We are also delighted to welcome back Richard Cant, Amanda Lawrence, Hugh Skinner and Sharon D Clarke, who is returning to play one of Wilde’s most iconic roles – Lady Bracknell.”
The set and costume design will be led by Rae Smith, lighting design by Jon Clark, sound design by Nicola T Chang, composition by DJ Walde, movement direction by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille and casting by Alastair Coomer CDG.
The Importance of Being Earnest will join the previously announced Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre for the festive season.
It will run in the Lyttelton theatre from November 20 2024 to January 25 2025.
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Gatwa has previously had a number of stage roles including starring in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare’s Globe.
The Scottish-Rwandan actor will soon return as the 15th incarnation of the Time Lord in the sci-fi series Doctor Who after making his debut as the character in two December episodes last year.
The long-running BBC series will return to screens in May.
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