The always reliably brilliant Barn Theatre have announced details of their latest digital production. This time around they are teaming up with the Lawrence Batley Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre, Oxford Playhouse and Theatre Clwyd to co-produce a brand new digital production of The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Based on the iconic novel by Oscar Wilde, it will be written by Heny Filloux-Bennett and directed by Tamara Harvey - the same team responsible for one of The Barn Theatre's most recent online productions - the massively successful and highly celebrated What A Carve Up!. Like it's predecessor, The Picture of Dorian Gray is set to push the theatrical form, utilising elements found in radio plays, films, documentaries as well as traditional theatre techniques.
Set in a profile pic-obsessed, filter-fixated world where online and reality blur, influencer Dorian Gray makes a deal. For his social star never to fade. For the perfect self he broadcasts to the world to always remain. But as his mental health starts to decline, as corruption and murderous depravity start to creep into his world, the true and horrific cost of his deal will soon need to be met.
On being reunited for this new production Henry Filloux-Bennett and Tamara Harvey commented, “So many of us have found ourselves living in an ever more online world over the last year. But the benefits and the connections digital have offered us come with a darker side - deterioration in mental health, isolation, online manipulation to name just a few. Following ‘What a Carve Up!’ we really wanted to explore what would happen if you brought Oscar Wilde’s Faustian tale kicking and screaming into a world of Instagram, Facebook and dating apps.”
For the titular role, a Hollywood star has been recruited. The production will be led by Fionn Whitehead, most famously known for his role in Christopher Nolan's Academy Award nominated movie Dunkirk.
For additional casting, they are pulling no punches, recruiting some huge names for the production. Alfred Enoch, Joanna Lumley, Russell Tovey, Emma McDonald and Stephen Fry compleye the cast.
The collaboration will be co-produced by The Barn Theatre in Cirencester, the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, the Oxford Playhouse in Oxfordshire and Theatr Clwyd in Mold.
The producers are also dedicated to supporting fellow theatres across the country during this unprecedented time and have announced 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 Picture of Dorian Gray will run for two weeks from Tuesday 16th until Wednesday 31st March. It will be available to view internationally.
Tickets can be purchased at pictureofdoriangray.com with audience members receiving a screening link which will activate on their booked performance date for a 48-hour period. Tickets are priced at £12 which will include both a link to the production as well as a digital programme. Audio description and closed captioning will be made available for the production during its run.