They say that in London you are never more than 6ft away from a rat. I’d like to amend this to ‘6ft away from a production of The Importance Of Being Earnest’, the beloved Oscar Wilde play that is, yet again, making its way to the West End.
I think I’ve witnessed more remakes of Earnest in my life than I’ve seen hedgehogs. The upcoming production, starring the singer and actor Olly Alexander, follows a successful run at the National Theatre and opens at the Noël Coward on September 18.
As is convention in times of financial constraint, playhouses revert to the classics in a bid to stave off poor sales. It’s not that I don’t understand why Wilde’s comedy is coming back. It is simply that I find the endless cycle of reruns and adaptations crucifyingly dull.
Ed McGovern, the business development director of Crossroads Live, a production company, argues that, although remakes are ‘vital for keeping theatre financially sustainable’ — no mean feat given a play’s current operating costs — the ecosystem also requires ‘raw, urgent work that will become tomorrow’s classics’. Baby Reindeer, an international phenomenon on Netflix last year, and King Charles III, a brilliant BBC film, both got their start in intimate spaces off the West End. ‘What gets lost is how much brilliant new theatre is actually happening,’ says Ed, ‘at venues such as Southwark Playhouse, the Almeida or the Bush.’
The heart of Theatreland itself can also make room for the bold and brave, as it did last year for Mark Rosenblatt’s Giant, a play that explores the alleged antisemitism of Roald Dahl. Following a sold-out run at the Royal Court and three Olivier awards, it took its rightful place at the Harold Pinter Theatre this summer, with a final curtain call on August 2. It was a triumph, a bold and intelligent drama that chose not to tread lightly.
The trouble is we have too few such plays: risky business should be the norm, not the anomaly. Theatre is a business, however, and we the audience need to show our appetite for originality — and courage. That starts with having some of our own.
This feature originally appeared in the July 1, 2025, issue of Country Life. Click here for more information on how to subscribe
-
Furs class travel: The hotels, superyacht designers and airlines setting new standards for pet-friendly travelThere’s no longer any need to leave your favourite four-legged friend behind when you go on holiday.
-
Jilly's Cooper's first book in the Country Life Quiz of the Day, October 8 2025Test your general knowledge with today's quiz.
-
Agromenes: Evolution, not revolution, is what we need for a green and sustainable futureThe short-term pain of a green transition will be worth it in the long run. What we need is some bold vision to get there.
-
The proposed National Gallery extension is a ray of light in a stormy sectorThe announcement of a new wing for one of the nation's top art galleries 'is a transformative initiative undertaken through private philanthropy to clear and universal benefit. What is there not to celebrate?'
-
Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, don't blame it on the good times, blame it on the batsBats and newts are an easy target, but can they actually be blamed for not building enough houses?
-
Agromenes: Why is our tax money not being spent on British food?A Freedom of Information request reveals that many of our local councils and government departments aren't buying British-grown food. It's an insult to our farmers.
-
Affordable, sustainable, rural: How a group of volunteers embarrassed the government and built some of the best new homes in the countryHazelmead has won almost every RIBA award going. The development on the outskirts of Bridport might be a springboard for a rural housing revolution, much like the Arts-and-Crafts movement more than a century ago.
-
William Hanson: Why etiquette must evolve to suit modern lifeNoodle slurping and the left-handed taboo. The king of modern manners details the evolution of proper conduct in his latest book.
-
Athena: In the eyes of Government, will the Arts always be last?After a year of Labour rule, life doesn't seem to be getting any better for Britain's cultural institutions.
-
Agromenes: 'See it. Say it. Sorted. This is truly where Britain is broken'Country Life's Cultural Crusader rails against the constant annoying reminders of how we should live our lives.
