The Sheffield University Theatre Company (SUTCo) Week 8 production The Importance of Being Earnest announced their cast for the show, being staged this November at the Library Theatre in Sheffield’s theatre district. This casting announcement joins the previously revealed cast of the group’s Week 10 production Margaret Beaufort: Kingmaker, and is the only remaining SUTCo production in 2024 to be created at a venue other than the University of Sheffield Drama Studio.
Taking to social media this afternoon, the working committee revealed their cast list, just one week after its composition was confirmed, congratulating “everyone cast in [their] Week 8 show”. Originally written by Oscar Wilde, the latest production is directed by Amaara Qureshi (Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like It, Medea), and assistant directed by Abby Broido (Swap the Press) and Emilia Lodge (Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like It), who also serve as the show’s Production Managers, and follows the misadventures of two characters who escape their everyday lives by both living as alter-ego ‘Ernest’.
Leading the company are SUTCo veterans Luke Hookham (The Shivers, Medea, The 39 Steps) and Toma Hoffman (Medea) as Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, respectively. Having worked together on the 2023 SUTCo production Medea, the two are set to reunite at the Library Theatre almost one year after their first show together. Joining them are Chantelle Winder (The French Lieutenant’s Woman, The Railway Children) as Gwendolen Fairfax and SUTCo Chair Caitlin Wood (Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like It, 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche) as Miss Prism.
As well as four returning SUTCo cast members, half of The Importance of Being Earnest cast is comprised of new performers to the group. These include Eden Houlberg (Around the World in 80 Days) as Cecily Cardew and Louis Josa (Around the World in 80 Days, The Bear, The Alien Corn) as Chasuble, as well as both Jessica Ansbro and Alex Mackie making their theatrical debuts in the production, as Lady Bracknell and Lane/Merriman, respectively.
With the penultimate SUTCo slot of 2024, and the final production to be performed in an alternate venue this year, The Importance of Being Earnest have officially begun their rehearsal process, with only six weeks to go until the show opens. With cast revealed and their technical team in the process of being formed, the production’s company are rapidly taking shape, and will be busy making preparations ahead of the show’s opening date, set for just over one month from today.
The Importance of Being Earnest is playing at the Library Theatre from November 20th until November 22nd. The production’s tech call is open until October 18th, with applications available here
