The David Lean Cinema has partnered with National Theatre Live to bring their star-studded stage productions to the big screen, and the programming begins with stage shows featuring two very different “doctors”.

The stage-to-screen collaboration begins next week, on Wednesday March 19, with a screening of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, starring Doctor Who’s Ncuti Gatwa and three-time Olivier Award-winner Sharon D Clarke.

Then, next month, the David Lean Cinema will be screening Armando Iannucci’s adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove, starring Steve Coogan.

The decision to bring live theatre to the 68-seater independent cinema, nestled in the Croydon Clocktower, seems a natural progression for the cinema which has always been a fierce champion of the arts, promoting independent movies, art-house cinema and international films.

A handbag?: Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa, is centre stage in The Importance, which is being screened at the David Lean Cinema next week

Sam Clark, the chair of the David Lean Cinema, said: “We were screening National Theatre productions at the David Lean Cinema back in the noughties, so know there’s an appetite for live theatre in Croydon.

“It feels great to bring it back to our screen for people to enjoy, affordably.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring the magic of these stunning and varied National Theatre shows to Croydon.”

• Inside Croydon has moved to Bluesky. Click here to join us there for latest updates and insights

• Check out our archive of podcasts on Spotify, including our monthly news discussion panel show thingy, the Croydon Insider, and The Andrew Fisher Interview

PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, as featured on Google News Showcase, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com for our unbeatable ad rates

Inside Croydon – If you want real journalism, delivering real news, from a publication that is actually based in the borough, please consider paying for it. Sign up today: click here for more details

• If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com

• As featured on Google News Showcase

• We offer FREE ads to community groups when they have members who are paid subscribers to Inside Croydon

• Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here

• Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network