Jazzy 1920s Take on The Importance of Being Earnest Comes to Cheltenham
Oscar Wilde's comic masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest comes to the Everyman Theatre Cheltenham this September, reimagined with 1920s glamour, live music and jazz-styled contemporary hits
OVO's sparkling new production of The Importance of Being Earnest runs from Tuesday 8 to Saturday 12 September 2026, transporting audiences to the roaring twenties for a fresh take on one of Wilde's best-loved comedies.
Adapted and directed by OVO Founder and Artistic Director Adam Nichols, the production combines Wilde's razor-sharp dialogue with the style, glitz and glamour of the 1920s.
Oscar Wilde Meets Contemporary Chart Hits
A talented cast of actor-musicians is joined by a live on-stage band, with jazz-styled versions of contemporary chart hits woven throughout the production.
Music from artists including RAYE, Madonna, Lizzo and Eminem is given a jazz makeover, creating a jukebox musical that mixes modern music with Wilde's famous comedy.
A Fresh Take on a Comedy Classic
The vibrant 1920s setting also brings the play's female characters firmly to the fore, presenting them with greater agency and confidence.
Traditional dynamics are playfully shifted, with relationships driven as much by female courtship as male, while retaining the wit and mischievous spirit of Wilde's original work.
The production follows OVO's approach to reimagining classic works for contemporary audiences, with the company having staged more than 100 productions during the past 23 years.
Glittering, Sharp and Beautifully Mischievous
Adam Nichols, adaptor and director of the production, said: “The Importance of Being Earnest is a showcase of what OVO does best: reimagining classic plays in a bold new colour. Glittering, sharp, and beautifully mischievous.”
The Importance of Being Earnest runs at the Everyman Theatre Cheltenham from Tuesday 8 to Saturday 12 September 2026.
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7 September 2026
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