York Theatre To Host Production 41 In York City Centre Will Host A Brand-New Production Of The Importance Of Being Earnest By New Local Company

From 1st to 4th May, Theatre@41 in York city centre will host a brand-new production of The Importance of Being Earnest, performed by local repertory company Pop Yer Clogs Theatre. The production will be a faithful adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece, bringing his wickedly funny satire to the heart of York, with specially recorded music and handmade 1890s costumes. The production is produced, directed, and performed by a cast of local actors who formed the company only last year in order to stage productions such as this timeless classic at an accessible price of only £10.

First performed in 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest is a satirical comedy which pokes fun at the absurdity of Victorian upper-class society. The dialogue contains some of Oscar Wilde’s most famous one-liners, including the immortal exclamation: “A handbag?”

The play follows the story of Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who each adopt a fictional persona named ‘Ernest’ in an attempt to win love. Predictably, they become entangled in each other’s lies, and their deceptions unravel into a side-splitting whirlwind of rushed proposals, disapproving relatives, and mistaken identity.

Director Christopher Leslie says:
“Earnest is a play everyone has heard of but has not necessarily seen. It is such a delightfully witty and farcical play, and it will be a treat to put it on next month. We have a superb and stellar cast on our hands and everyone has been working extremely hard.”

Harry Murdoch, who plays Jack Worthing, says:
“Not a single rehearsal goes by where we don’t find ourselves in fits of giggles. Every character has their own moment to show off all their absurd eccentricities, and the part of Jack offers so much for me to play with. Throughout the play he goes from experiencing the highest intensity and anxiety to moments of the deepest despair and vulnerability. The perfect range of emotions for a comedic lead!”
Jim Paterson, Trustee at Theatre@41, says:
“As Wilde himself said, ‘The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.’ We heartily encourage the people of York to take that advice and yield to the temptation to see ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’! We love welcoming new companies to our studio and can’t wait to see Pop Yer Clogs take on this brilliant comedy.”

In addition to staging Earnest, Pop Yer Clogs Theatre are currently rehearsing for an abridged performance of Alice In Wonderland at York Theatre Royal on May 16th as part of the venue’s TakeOver festival. They will return to Theatre@41 with a full-length production of Alice in November.

The Importance of Being Earnest will run from Wednesday 1st to Saturday 4th May at 7:30 pm. Tickets and further information can be found at https://tinyurl.com/3c4rvbbe.