Joanna Lumley, Stephen Fry, Alfred Enoch and Russell Tovey will join Dunkirk star Fionn Whitehead in a modern day adaption of The Picture Of Dorian Gray – an Oxford Playhouse co-production.
Alfred Enoch plays Harry Wotton, Joanna Lumley Lady Narborough, Emma McDonald Sibyl Vane and Russell Tovey stars as Basil Hallward, with Stephen Fry as the Interviewer, in the adaption of Oscar Wilde’s classic play running in March.
The beloved Faustian tale by Oscar Wilde is brought kicking and screaming into a world of Instagram, Facebook and dating apps. Set in a profile pic-obsessed, filter-fixated world, the contemporary take follows influencer Dorian Gray as he makes a deal for his social star never to fade.
But as his mental health starts to decline, and corruption and murderous depravity start to creep into his world, the true and horrific cost of his deal will soon need to be met.
Director Tamara Harvey said: “When trying to tell stories in Covid times, with very few resources and almost no time, the thing you need from your cast more even than talent is a spirit of collaboration, combined with patience, kindness and large doses of humour.
“Every member of our cast for Dorian Gray brought that and more. They are not only ridiculously talented but also – perhaps even more importantly – they’re all genuinely lovely people, which has made the making of this piece a joy.”
The Barn Theatre in Cirencester, the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, Oxford Playhouse in Oxfordshire and Theatr Clwyd in Mold are co-producers for the production.
The producers are also supporting fellow theatres across the country by announcing that the following theatres will be joining the production as partner venues: Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Arts At The Old Fire Station, artsdepot – North Finchley, Belgrade Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Guildhall Arts Centre – Grantham, Hertford Theatre, Mercury Theatre, Octagon Theatre Bolton, Stamford Arts Centre, The Dukes, The Elgiva, The Lighthouse Theatre, The Lowry, The Torch, The Watermill Theatre, Theatre By The Lake, Theatre Royal Winchester and Watford Palace Theatre.
The digital Picture Of Dorian Gray runs from 16-31 March, priced £12. Go to pictureofdoriangray.com or bookings@pictureofdoriangray.com
