Cathy Tyson plays Lady Bracknell in a new production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, the first play in Birmingham REP’s 2016 autumn season.
She said, “Lady Bracknell is so well known. I’ve played Ophelia, I’ve played Cleopatra and lots of other famous characters but people have a really personal view of Lady Bracknell. They quote lines back at you! It’s lovely because it’s theirs as well.”
The Importance of Being Earnest is a co-production between Birmingham REP and Curve. The Leicester venue’s artistic director Nikolai Foster gives Wilde’s class comedy a “stylish, fresh and contemporary spin”.
He said, “we’re delighted that Cathy Tyson is Lady Bracknell. She’s hugely intelligent, intuitive and imaginative. Those three things brought together with this role will create something incredible.
“I first saw Cathy in Band of Gold on TV when I was growing up and I still remember very clearly her rawness and visceral attack. I was blown away by her!”
The cast of The Importance of Being Earnest also includes Sharan Phull as Cecily Cardew, Edward Franklin as Algernon Moncrieff, Fela Lufadejue as John (Jack) Worthing, Angela Clarkin as Miss Prism, Dominic Gately as Reverend Chasuble, Darren Bennett as servants Lane and Merriman and Martha Mackintosh as Gwendolen Fairfax.
The creative team includes Dougal Irvine as composer, Ben Cracknell as lighting designer and Dan Hoole as sound designer. Design is by Isla Shaw.
The Importance of Being Earnest runs at Birmingham REP from Friday 9 until Saturday 24 September. Press night is Wednesday 14 September. It transfers to Curve from 11 until 29 October.