Following a hugely popular run, The Importance of Being Earnest returns to Lyric Theatre Belfast from 31 January to 22 February 2026, opening a landmark year as the Lyric celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Oscar Wilde’s sparkling satire of Victorian society remains as sharp, playful and subversive as ever. Packed with razor-edged dialogue, tangled romances and gloriously mistaken identities, this much-loved production returns by popular demand to launch a year of celebration at Northern Ireland’s only full-time producing theatre.
Directed by Jimmy Fay, the Lyric’s vibrant take brings fresh energy to Wilde’s masterpiece while remaining faithful to the wit and elegance that have secured its enduring appeal across generations.
The production reunites an acclaimed cast, with Adam Gillian and Conor O’Donnell leading as Jack and Algernon, alongside Meghan Tyler, Calla Hughes Nic Aoidh, Christina Nelson, Marty Maguire, Neil Keery and Allison Harding as the formidable Lady Bracknell. Together, they bring Wilde’s iconic characters back to the Lyric’s main stage with comic precision and warmth.
Audiences are invited to follow Jack and Algernon as their carefully constructed deceptions unravel, unleashing meddling aunts, misplaced handbags and revelations as uproarious as they are unexpected.
The return of The Importance of Being Earnest also reflects the Lyric’s long-standing relationship with Oscar Wilde, whose brilliance and theatrical daring have been celebrated on its stages throughout the theatre’s 75-year history. Opening this anniversary year with Wilde’s most beloved comedy feels both fitting and joyful.
The Importance of Being Earnest runs from 31 January – 22 February 2026.
For booking details, visit lyrictheatre.co.uk.
