Oscar Wilde was a Victorian homosexual dandy who loved eccentric socialites. He travelled to America with “nothing to declare except his genius” and found worldwide success as a playwright.
The Importance of Being Oscar takes audiences on a captivating journey through the loves and losses, successes and challenges of Oscar Wilde. The story portrays how his life of fame, glamour, and romance eventually led him to become an imprisoned outcast, ultimately dying penniless in a Parisian hotel. At the end, he famously complained about the wallpaper, saying, ‘One of us had to go…’
The show is described as a celebration of Wilde’s spirit through his diverse writings, including his most personal letters, some of which remained private for over 50 years. The play is richly infused with Wilde’s signature wit and wisdom. It includes excerpts from many of his well-known works, such as The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
The play has a remarkable history, having been written and first performed by Micheál Mac Liammóir, a vibrant and successful actor and writer who admired Oscar Wilde. He performed the play 600 times worldwide between 1960 and 1976. Although he co-founded the Gate Theatre in Dublin and had his funeral attended by the Irish President, earning a reputation as a quintessentially Irish theatrical figure, Micheál Mac Liammóir was actually born Alfred Willmore to an English family in London and created a fictional Irish identity. Both Mac Liammóir and Wilde share undeniable similarities in their mystique, flamboyant personalities, and eccentric creative spirits.
Alastair Whatley’s one-man show at Reading Rep Theatre in 2024, followed by performances at Jermyn Street Theatre, marked his return to the stage. His last performance was in 2017 during the New York transfer of Original Theatre’s production of Torben Betts’ Invincible. Alastair has an impressive range of acting credits, including Birdsong, The Importance of Being Earnest, See How They Run, Three Men in a Boat, Twelfth Night, Dancing at Lughnasa, Vincent in Brixton, and Henry V with the RSC.
The Importance of Being Oscar runs from 22 July to 22 August 2026 at Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP, United Kingdom.
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