Giffnock theatre group to perform Importance of Being Earnest

The Giffnock Theatre Players (GTP) will be putting on a rendition of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, which will run at the Eastwood Park Theatre from February 18 to 21, 2026.

The group, which was formed in 1949 with Rikki Fulton (Scotch and Wry) as a founding member, last did the production in 2000 to much acclaim.

null (Image: Hannah Waugh as Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest)

"The last time we did this show, it was a great success both commercially and critically," David Pearson, who is on the Board of Trustees for GTP, told the Glasgow Times.

He continued: "Audience numbers were great all week, informal feedback in the foyer at the end of each evening performance showed folk really enjoyed it, and the set even drew a round of applause each evening."

This time around, the group hope that a few interesting changes will make this year's production - which is being directed by Glynis Poole - a "surefire winner".

David said the group will be making the show as feel-good as possible and has extracted as much comedy from Wilde's play as possible.

They will be changing the structure of the play: while Wilde's original drama is in three acts, the GTP version will be in two, though no cuts have been made to the text, David assured.

The club will also be making more use of music and subtle lighting shifts, and the role of servants Lane and Merriman will actually be played by two members of the stage crew who will, at certain points, move furniture around while on stage.

There will also be a "twist" which audiences will discover when they look at their programmes.

null (Image: Kyle Dormer (Algernon) and new member Ryan Flay (Jack))

Meanwhile, some favourable elements of the earlier show will be kept the same.

For example, hats and accessories from the earlier show will be used, and June Stevenson, who helped with the set decor in 2000, will be among the 2026 backstage team. This time, she will be lending her expertise to the props department.

Speaking on the upcoming show, David said: "We are really looking forward to performing the show and we are excited for opening night. We have been working really hard on it over the last few weeks and everything is coming together brilliantly."

He went on to say that he hopes the play still resonates with audiences - especially given how modern the themes and issues explored within it are.

null (Image: Imogen Carmichael)

The play was first performed on February 14, 1895, at the St James's Theatre in London.

Categorised as a farcical comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest follows the tangled affairs of two young men (Algernon Moncrief and Jack Worthing) who lead double lives to evade unwanted social obligations, both assuming the name Ernest while wooing the two young women (Cecily Cardew and Gwendolen Fairfax) of their affections.

Tickets for the upcoming show from GTP are now available to purchase HERE

You can also grab tickets by calling 0141 577 4956.

null (Image: Director Glynis Poole advising Hannah Waugh (Cecily Cardew))

The group has previously performed popular plays like The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Women of Lockerbie and Men Should Weep.

The group is known to be a place for all ages, with members from as young as 11 right through to people in their 70s.

We previously spoke with David about the mix of generations within the club, and he said the intergenerational nature of the group brings people of all ages together and helps older and younger people form connections and with a number of members living alone, inclusivity is a big part of what GTP are known for.

For more information on the club, visit www.giffnocktheatreplayers.com