The Picture of Dorian Gray - St James Studio, Greenwich Theatre and on tour
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
EUROPEAN Arts Company (The Trials of Oscar Wilde) is presenting a UK tour of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Adapted by Merlin Holland (Wilde’s grandson) and John O’Connor, the production will visit 42 venues from April 8 to June 20, 2015, culminating in a week long residency at London’s St James Studio (June 15 to June 20). On June 20, it will be exactly 125 years since Wilde’s only novel was published.
Along the way,The Picture of Dorian Gray will visit Greenwich Theatre (May 29 to May 31).
The Picture of Dorian Gray is set in the decadent world of Victorian London. A beautiful, narcissistic young man becomes infatuated by the exquisite portrait that Basil Hallward has painted of him. He makes a Faustian pact that he will remain forever young while the picture grows old.
Combining drawing-room comedy and gothic horror, this is described as a gripping and hugely entertaining theatrical event that showcases Wilde’s remarkable talent.
The cast includes Guy Warren-Thomas (Spooks, The Greater Good, Downton Abbey) as Dorian Gray; Gwynfor Jones (The Woman In Black, West End, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Oldham Coliseum) as Lord Henry; Rupert Mason (EastEnders, A Touch of Frost and most recently The Trails of Oscar Wilde for EAC) as Basil Hallward; and Helen Keeley (The Importance of Being Earnest, London Classic Theatre, To The End, Southwark Playhouse) as Sybil Vane.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is directed by Peter Craze (Doctor Who, Blake’s Seven), with lighting design by Duncan Hands and set and costume design by Dora Schweitzer.
For full tour dates visit www.europeanarts.co.uk/.