Rehearsal images have been released for the UK tour of Oscar Wilde’s THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, which will open at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on 24 January, starring West End leading lady Kerry Ellis.
Kerry Ellis will star as Gwendolen, her first non-singing role, in the 2018 UK tour of Oscar Wilde’s THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford, Courtyard Theatre Hereford, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Belfast Grand Opera House, Theatre Royal Bath and Manchester Opera House. Hannah Louise Howell will play Gwendolen at all other venues. They will be joined by Geoff Aymer, Louise Coulthard, Thomas Howes, Peter Sandys-Clarke and Simon Shackleton, playing Chasuble, Cecily, Algernon, Jack and Lane/Merriman respectively.
They join the previously announced Gwen Taylor as Lady Bracknell and Susan Penhaligon as Miss Prism.
Renowned theatre star and recording artist, Kerry Ellis is best known for originating the role of Meat, in Queen’s We Will Rock You and was the first British actress to play Elphaba in Wicked, for which Kerry won the 2008 What’s on Stage Award for ‘Best Takeover in a Role’. She then played the role at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway for six months, where she won the Broadway.com Audience Award for ‘Favourite Female Breakthrough Performance’. Her other West End theatre work includes Sara in Murder Ballad at The Arts Theatre, Nancy in Oliver!, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Ellen in Miss Saigon, Fantine in Les Misérables and she took over from Nicole Scherzinger in the role of Grizabella in Cats. Kerry has achieved chart-topping success as a recording artist, releasing four albums and touring the UK and Europe with Brian May of Queen.
Oscar Wilde’s greatly admired and much loved comedy THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST follows Jack Worthing’s endeavours to marry Algernon’s cousin, the beautiful Gwendolen. But first he must convince the fearsome Lady Bracknell of his respectability. Wilde’s classic play looks at the clash of town and country in a story of romance, identity, perambulators and capacious handbags.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST will be directed by The Original Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Alastair Whatley, with set and costume designs by Gabriella Slade, sound and music by Giles Thomas and lighting by Alan Valentine. The UK tour is produced by Tom Hackney for The Original Theatre Company.
2018 TOUR SCHEDULE
24 January – 3 February Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford
5 – 10 February Courtyard Theatre, Hereford
13 – 17 February Theatre Royal Plymouth
20 – 24 February Belfast Grand Opera House
27 February – 3 March Bath Theatre Royal
5 – 10 March Theatre Royal Winchester
13 – 17 March Manchester Opera House
20 – 24 March Salisbury Playhouse
27 – 31 March Lichfield Garrick Theatre
3 – 7 April Churchill Theatre, Bromley
9 – 14 April Cambridge Arts Theatre
17 – 21 April York Theatre Royal
24 – 28 April Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
30 April – 5 May Theatre Royal Windsor
Photo: James Findlay

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