State Theatre's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Breaks Box Office Records

State Theatre Company's season of The Importance of Being Earnest, which closed last Saturday 16 August, has broken the Company's box office record, taking over $424,000 and becoming the highest grossing production in its history. This follows the record-breaking season of Brief Encounter in September last year which was then trumped by that of Neighbourhood Watch in April this year.

The season of The Importance of Being Earnest included a number of totally sold-out performances, with two extra performances being added to cope with public demand. During its 23 performance season the production played to paid attendances in excess of 10,000.

Heralded as a 'masterpiece' (InDaily), the production, directed by Geordie Brookman, featured a 'stellar cast' (GLAM Adelaide) including Nancye Hayes and Nathan O'Keefe, and garnered outstanding reviews. The production now hits the road with seasons in Canberra, Wollongong and Geelong.

Geordie Brookman said: "I'm delighted that Adelaide audiences embraced our winter comedy so warmly. I hope that interstate audiences will enjoy our production of Wilde's masterpiece as much as our audiences have in Adelaide."

State Theatre Company CEO/Producer Rob Brookman said: "It is brilliant to see audiences flocking back to State Theatre Company's work in such numbers. Our ticket sales in Adelaide lifted by 26% from 2012 to 2013, with an increase in tickets sales from 38,000 in 2012 to 48,000 in 2013, and we're expecting a further increase in 2014 due to the great results for The Seagull, Neighbourhood Watch and The Importance of Being Earnest. We are also delighted to have seen a lift of 26% in the number of subscribers to the Company's main-stage season from 2012 to 2014."

State Theatre Company's next production is the Australian premiere and exclusive season of legendary director Peter Brook's The Suit. Brook is widely regarded as the greatest director of his generation and the most influential theatre director in the world over the last fifty years. The Suit will be Peter Brook's first English-language production to visit Adelaide since the legendary The Mahabharata came to the Adelaide Festival 26 years ago. Adelaide will join Tokyo, Rome, New York, London and Shanghai in hosting The Suit, which will have visited 37 cities in 19 countries by the time the 2014/2015 tour concludes in June next year.

For more details visit www.statetheatrecompany.com.au.