The Importance of Being Earnest

Sat Feb 21 2026 at 09:30 am to 11:30 am UTC+13:00

129 Gloucester Street, Christchurch, New Zealand 8011 | Christchurch

The Court Theatre
Publisher/HostThe Court Theatre
The Importance of Being Earnest
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A sparkling comedy of manners, full of wit, romance, and delightful absurdity.
Jack leads a respectable life in the country as guardian to his young ward, but when he travels to London he adopts the alter ego of “Ernest”, a persona that allows him to embrace freedom, frivolity, and all the pleasures city life has to offer. His friend Algernon is no less devious, inventing an imaginary invalid friend to escape tedious social obligations and enjoy the liberties of a secret double life.
Their playful deceptions take a chaotic turn when both men fall for two charming young women, each convinced she must marry a man named Ernest. Mistaken identities, witty repartee, and outrageous revelations spiral into a whirlwind of comedy, romance, and intrigue.
Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest remains a sparkling satire of social conventions, love, and the pursuit of happiness; as fresh, funny, and irresistibly entertaining today as it was when first performed in 1895.
“If you are a little English literature nerd like me, or even think the Victorians were a bit snobbish, this is the perfect show for you. I haven’t seen a theatre laugh so often and loudly in a while and it is so refreshing” – Art Murmurs
“…you don’t go to see The Importance of Being Earnest for political commentary, but rather to see a genius at his most joyful. The play is a delight, what more could you want?” – ArtsHub
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129 Gloucester Street, Christchurch, New Zealand 8011, New Zealand

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