Lucy Bailey directs West End Importance of Being Earnest with Nigel Havers and Siân Phillips

Lucy Bailey will direct a revival of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest at the Harold Pinter Theatre this summer, with a cast including Nigel Havers and Siân Phillips, WhatsOnStage can exclusively reveal.

The production, which opens on 17 July 2014 (previews from 27 June), is produced by the 'Bunbury Company of Players' and will embark on a UK tour following its West End run.

The cast also features Cherie Lunghi (Passion Play), Rosalind Ayres (Outnumbered), Niall Buggy (Translations), Martin Jarvis (Endeavour) and Christine Kavanagh (Vera).

Designed by William Dudley, the production has a 'company writer' attached, crime specialist Simon Brett, best known for his Charles Paris series about a middle-aged actor-cum- amateur detective.

Lucy Bailey's recent productions include Uncle Vanya (Print Room), The Winter's Tale (RSC) and Fortune’s Fool (Old Vic).

Nigel Havers has appeared on TV in Downton Abbey and Coronation Street. His stage credits include Single Spies, Basket Case and Art. Siân Phillips recently appeared in Rufus Norris' revival of Cabaret in the West End.

According to press material, "The Bunbury Company of Players reside in Bunbury, South Cheshire in the North West of England, and specialise in late 19th Century and early 20th Century light comedy. Their productions of An Ideal Husband, and Pygmalion are well known, but their The Importance of Being Earnest has always been especially acclaimed."

After the West End, the production will visit: Theatre Royal, Bath (22-27 September), Theatre Royal Brighton (29 September-4 October), Aylesbury Waterside (6-11 October), Richmond Theatre (13-18 October) and Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (20-25 October).