Gwen Taylor and Susan Penhaligon to Star in UK Tour of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

Gwen Taylor will star as Lady Bracknell in the 2018 UK tour of Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, alongside Susan Penhaligon as Miss Prism. The tour will begin on 24 January at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, ending on 28 April in Eastbourne. Further casting is to be announced.

Gwen Taylor is best known for playing the title role in the ITV sitcom Barbara, as well as Anne Foster in Coronation Street, Peggy Armstrong in Heartbeat, Rita Simcock in A Bit of A Do, for which she was nominated for a BAFTA TV Best Actress Award, and Amy in Duty Free. Her film appearances include The Lady in the Van and Monty Python's Life of Brian. Gwen most recently played Mrs Bramson in Luke Sheppard's critically acclaimed touring production of Emlyn Williams's Night Must Fall and Daisy Worthen in Driving Miss Daisy at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. Other theatre credits include Calendar Girls (UK Tour), the title role in the national tour of Shirley Valentine, Top Girls (Royal Court and New York), and Gertrude in Sir Peter Hall's production of Hamlet (London's Gielgud Theatre and national tour).

Susan Penhaligon is currently appearing in Rufus Norris's production of Cabaret alongside Will Young and Louise Redknapp. She has a wide range of TV credits to her name, including Upstairs Downstairs, Tales of the Unexpected, Bergerac and A Bouquet of Barbed Wire. She played Judi Dench's sister Helen in four series of the award-winning BBC sitcom A Fine Romance, and the regular role of Jean Hope in ITV's Emmerdale. Susan also played Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew for the BBC's Shakespeare season. Susan has toured the UK extensively, having previously worked with The Original Theatre Company, playing Queen Charlotte in their 2010 production of Alan Bennett's The Madness of George III. She has also appeared in productions of George Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession, Agatha Christie's Verdict and Oscar Wilde's Lord Arthur Saville's Crime.

Oscar Wilde's greatly admired and much loved comedy THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST follows Jack Worthing's endeavours to marry Algernon's cousin, the beautiful Gwendolen. But first he must convince the fearsome Lady Bracknell of his respectability. Wilde's classic play looks at the clash of town and country in a story of romance, identity, perambulators and capacious handbags.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST will be directed by The Original Theatre Company's Artistic Director, Alastair Whatley, with set and costume designs by Gabriella Slade, sound and music by GiLes Thomas and lighting by Alan Valentine. The UK tour is produced by Tom Hackney for The Original Theatre Company.

Website: www.originaltheatre.com

2018 TOUR SCHEDULE

24 January - 3 February Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford 01483 440000
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

5 - 10 February Courtyard Theatre, Hereford 01432 340555

www.courtyard.org.uk On sale 2 October

13 - 17 February Theatre Royal Plymouth 01752 267222

www.theatreroyal.com On sale soon

20 - 24 February Belfast Grand Opera House 028 9024 1919 goh.org.uk

27 February - 3 March Bath Theatre Royal 01225 448844

www.theatreroyal.org.uk On sale 2 November

5 - 10 March Theatre Royal Winchester 01962 840440

www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk

13 - 17 March Manchester Opera House 0844 871 3018

www.atgtickets.com/manchester On sale 13 October

20 - 24 March Salisbury Playhouse 01722 320333 www.salisburyplayhouse.com On sale soon

27 - 31 March Lichfield Garrick Theatre 01543 412121

www.lichfieldgarrick.com On sale soon

3 - 7 April Churchill Theatre, Bromley 020 3285 6000 www.churchilltheatre.co.uk On sale soon

17 - 21 April York Theatre Royal 01904 623568 www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk On sale soon

24 - 28 April Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne 01323 412000
www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk On sale soon

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