Ncuti Gatwa Shines in First-Look Images of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at the National Theatre (EXCLUSIVE)

Ncuti Gatwa is back on stage in a new production of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” at London’s National Theatre, and first-look images have been released ahead of the play’s opening night on Thursday.

The “Doctor Who” and “Sex Education” star plays Algernon Moncrief, a witty yet idle bachelor, alongside Hugh Skinner’s Jack Worthing in the production reimagined by Max Webster (Donmar Warehouse’s “Macbeth,” “Life of Pi”).

The play’s provided synopsis is as follows: “While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack (Skinner) lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy (Gatwa) adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.”

“The Importance of Being Earnest” will run at the National Theatre’s Lyttlelton Theatre through Jan. 25, and a filmed version will be released worldwide in cinemas beginning on Feb. 20 (tickets can be purchased here).

Alongside Gatwa and Skinner, the production stars Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ (“Blues for an Alabama Sky”), Julian Bleach (“Doctor Who”), Shereener Browne (“The Effect”), Richard Cant (“Stan & Ollie”), Sharon D Clarke (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), Jasmine Kerr (“Follies”), Amanda Lawrence (“Star Wars: Episode – IX The Rise of Skywalker”), Gillian McCafferty (“The Rise & Fall of Little Voice”), Elliot Pritchard (“Museum of Austerity”), Eliza Scanlen (“Little Women”) and John Vernon (“Coriolanus”).

Tickets are still available for “The Importance of Being Earnest” on the National Theatre’s website.

See more first-look images of the production below.