Fionn Whitehead to start in new digital production of The Picture of Dorian Gray
18 Jan 2021
Fionn Whitehead to star in new digital production of The Picture of Dorian Gray
• THE STAR OF DUNKIRK & BANDERSNATCH WILL PLAY THE TITULAR ROLE OF DORIAN GRAY
• THE BARN THEATRE, LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE, NEW WOLSEY THEATRE, OXFORD PLAYHOUSE & THEATR CLWYD WILL CO-PRODUCE A DIGITAL PRODUCTION OF THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY
- BRISTOL OLD VIC IS PARTNER VENUE FOR THE PRODUCTION
• THE PRODUCTION, BASED ON OSCAR WILDE’S BELOVED NOVEL, WILL BE WRITTEN BY HENRY FILLOUX-BENNETT AND DIRECTED BY TAMARA HARVEY.
Fionn Whitehead, star of Dunkirk and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, will take on the titular role in an upcoming contemporary digital adaptation of the Oscar Wilde classic,The Picture of Dorian Gray which runs for two weeks from 16-31 March 2021.
Most recently seen starring in the Lionsgate and Saban Films’ Don’t Tell A Soul, Fionn Whitehead is best known for his critically acclaimed performance as the protagonist Tommy in Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award nominated war film, Dunkirk.
The Picture of Dorian Gray, from the team behind the celebrated digital production of What a Carve Up!, is set to push the theatrical form like its predecessor; utilising elements found in radio plays, films, documentaries as well as traditional theatrical techniques.
Each of us has heaven and hell in them. 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.
From the team behind the New York Times Critic’s Pick, five star “game-changer” (Telegraph) online production of What a Carve Up! comes a brand-new adaptation that brings Oscar Wilde’s Faustian tale kicking and screaming into a world of Instagram, Facebook and dating apps.
The Picture of Dorian Gray, reunite the creative team behind What a Carve Up! with Henry Filloux-Bennett writing the new adaptation with direction by Tamara Harvey. 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.”
Their most recent collaboration What a Carve Up!, which featured an all-star cast including Alfred Enoch, Stephen Fry and Sharon D Clarke, achieved both critical and public acclaim throughout the November lockdown of 2020 with the production receiving the prestigious New York Times Critic’s Pick as well as being heralded as one of the best productions of the year by both The Guardian and The Telegraph.
The Barn Theatre in Cirencester, the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield and the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich will return to co-produce The Picture of Dorian Gray with Oxford Playhouse in Oxfordshire and Theatr Clwyd in Mold joining the collaboration as co-producers.
The production will be available internationally, running until 31 March. 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.
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, Selling tickets through their own platforms: 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.
Further casting and creatives for the production will be announced at a later date.
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CONTACT AERON.JAMES@BARNTHEATRE.ORG.UK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR ENQUIRIES
OR FOR BRISTOL OLD VIC: AMANDA.ADAMS@BRISTOLOLDVIC.ORG.UK
Listings Information:
16-31 March 2021
tickets: www.pictureofdoriangray.com
email: bookings@pictureofdoriangray.com
price: £12
How it works: Audience members receive a screening link which will activate on their booked performance date for a 48-hour period. Ticket price includes both a link to the production as well as a digital programme.
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY
Co-production by Barn Theatre, Lawrence Batley Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre, Oxford Playhouse & Theatr Clwyd
Based on the novel by Oscar Wilde
Writer: Henry Filloux-Bennett
Director: Tamara Harvey
Cast: Fionn Whitehead
Twitter: twitter.com/picturedorian
Instagram: instagram.com/picturedorian
Facebook: facebook.com/pictureofdoriangray
Age guidance 16+
Content warning: The Picture of Dorian Gray includes extremely strong language and references to suicide and mental illness that some viewers may find upsetting.
Bristol Old Vic is the longest continuously running theatre in the UK, and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2016. The historic playhouse aims to inspire audiences with its own original productions, both at home and on tour, whilst nurturing the next generation of artists, whether that be through their 350-strong Young Company, their many outreach and education projects or their trailblazing artist development programme, Bristol Ferment.
They use their funding to support experiment and innovation, to allow access to their programme for people who would not otherwise encounter it, or be able to afford it, and to keep their extraordinary heritage alive and animated.
On 24 Sep 2018, Bristol Old Vic completed its 2-year multi-million pound redevelopment project, which transformed its front of house space into a warm and welcoming public building for all of Bristol to enjoy, created a new studio theatre and opened up its unique theatrical heritage to the public for the first time.