Full Cast Announced for New Digital Production of The Picture of Dorian Gray
22 Feb 2021
The co-producers of the upcoming digital adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray have today announced the production’s full casting and creative team.
Joining previously announced Fionn Whitehead, in the title role, are Alfred Enoch as Harry Wooton, Joanna Lumley as Lady Narborough, Emma McDonald as Sibyl Vane and Russell Tovey as Basil Hallward with Stephen Fry as the Interviewer.
From the creative team behind the critically acclaimed What a Carve Up!, 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.
The Picture of Dorian Gray will utilise elements found in radio plays, films, documentaries as well as traditional theatrical techniques. Tickets for the production are currently on sale internationally, and can be purchased via The Picture of Dorian Gray | Bristol Old Vic
Based on the novel by Oscar Wilde, the production is written by Henry Filloux-Bennett with direction by Tamara Harvey, set and costume design by Holly Pigott, assistant direction by Eleri Jones, Benjamin Collins as director of photography, sound design and original music by Harry Smith and original song by Jared Zeus.
Director Tamara Harvey said of the casting, “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.”
Audience members receive 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. Closed captioning will be available for all dates during the run, with audio description available from 23-31 March.
Education packs, which will be packaged with performance links at £100 per school/group, are also available for the production and have been curated to be used across a range of curriculum areas, particularly to those studying Drama and Theatre, Performing Arts, Media and PSHE.
Education Pack enquiries can be made by emailing: bookings@pictureofdoriangray.com
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.
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CONTACT AMANDA.ADAMS@BRISTOLOLDVIC.ORG.UK FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION OR ENQUIRIES
LISTINGS
16-31 Mar 2021
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
Tickets: £12
Writer: Henry Filloux-Bennett
Director: Tamara Harvey
Set & Costume Designer: Holly Pigott
Assistant Director: Eleri Jones
Director of Photography: Benjamin Collins
Sound Design & Original Music: Harry Smith
Original Song: Jared Zeus
Cast:
Alfred Enoch
Stephen Fry
Joanna Lumley
Emma McDonald
Russell Tovey
Fionn Whitehead
Bookings: www.bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/the-picture-of-dorian-gray
Twitter: twitter.com/picturedorian
Instagram: instagram.com/picturedorian
Facebook: facebook.com/pictureofdoriangray
IMAGES CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE
Partner venues for the production are Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Arts At The Old Fire Station, artsdepot – North Finchley, Belgrade Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Guildhall Arts Centre – Grantham, Hertford Theatre, Hull Truck 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.
NOTES TO EDITOR
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
ALFRED ENOCH as Harry Wooton - For theatre his work includes Crave (Chichester Festival Theatre), What a Carve Up! (online), Tree (MIF and Young Vic), Red (Wyndham’s Theatre), King Lear (Royal Exchange Manchester), Coriolanus (Donmar Warehouse), Timon of Athens, Antigone (National Theatre). For television, his credits include Foundation, Trust Me, Troy, How To Get Away with Murder, Sherlock and Broadchurch; and for film, Tigers, and he played Dean Thomas across seven of the eight Harry Potter films.
STEPHEN FRY as the Interviewer - He is a multi-award-winning comedian, actor and writer. His theatre credits include Mythos – A Trilogy: Gods. Heroes. Men (UK tour), Twelfth Night (Shakespeare’s Globe/Apollo Theatre/Belasco Theatre, Broadway), Forty Years On (Chichester Festival Theatre) and The Common Pursuit (Watford Palace Theatre/Phoenix Theatre). His television credits include It’s a Sin, Sex Education, Danger Mouse, 24: Live Another Day, Kingdom, Black Adder Goes Fourth, Black Adder II, and A Bit of Fry & Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster alongside comedy partner Hugh Laurie. He also hosted BBC’s QI for 13 years and has presented multiple documentaries including the Emmy-Award winning, Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive. His film credits include Love and Friendship, The Man Who Knew Infinity, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, St Trinians, A Cock and Bull Story, Gosford Park, Wilde and A Fish Called Wanda.
JOANNA LUMLEY as Lady Narborough - From Bond girl in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service to the iconic Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous, Joanna’s glittering career has spanned over four decades, through Purdey in The New Avengers, Sapphire in the cult classic Sapphire and Steel and movies including Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride and Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street. She has garnered multiple awards, including two BAFTAs and honours (OBE, FRGS and five honorary doctorates). Among her many charity endeavours, she is best known for her tireless support of the Gurkha Justice Campaign.
EMMA MCDONALD as Sibyl Vane - Her theatre credits include The Sweet Science of Bruising (Wilton’s Music Hall), Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Picture of Dorian Gray (The Watermill Theatre), Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet (The Watermill Theatre/European tours), Much Ado About Nothing (Iris Theatre) and Pride and Prejudice (Sheffield Theatres); and for film, Get Luke Lowe.
RUSSELL TOVEY as Basil Hallward - His theatre credits include Pinter at the Pinter: The Lover/The Collection (Harold Pinter Theatre), Angels in America, His Dark Materials, His Girl Friday, Henry V, Howard Katz (National Theatre), A View From The Bridge (Lyceum Theatre, Broadway), The History Boys (National Theatre/Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway), The Pass, A Miracle, Plasticine (Royal Court Theatre) and A Respectable Wedding (Young Vic). Noteworthy television credits include The Sister, Years and Years, Flesh and Blood, Quantico, Him & Her, Being Human, Looking, The Night Manager, Doctor Who, Sherlock, Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, The Job Lot and Little Dorrit; and for film, The Good Liar, Mindhorn, The Pass, The Lady In The Van, Pride, Grabbers and The History Boys. Tovey also co-hosts art podcast Talk Art with gallerist Robert Diament, where they interview leading artists, curators, gallerists and celebrities. Talk Art will be releasing a book in May 2021 and is available for pre-order on Amazon.
FIONN WHITEHEAD as Dorian Gray - Fionn Whitehead is well known for playing the lead in both the multi award winning Dunkirk and the Emmy Award winning Bandersnatch. Other credits include leading roles in Richard Eyre’s The Children Act opposite Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci and Port Authority which was Exec Produced by Martin Scorsese and premiered in competition at Cannes. Fionn can currently be seen in Alex McAulay’s debut Don’t Tell A Soul and will be seen later this year in Roger Michell’s The Duke opposite Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent and Neil Burger’s Voyagers. Whitehead is represented by Curtis Brown Group, United Talent Agency and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher
PRODUCING VENUES
BARN THEATRE
Since launching in 2018, the Barn Theatre has gained national recognition by producing 12 Built by Barn shows to upwards of 100,000 audience members and being awarded The Stage Awards’ Best Fringe Theatre of the Year Award 2019.
Their productions so far have included: Shakespeare’s Henry V, The 39 Steps (Barn Theatre & Theatre Royal Windsor), Daddy Long Legs (first originating UK production), The Importance of Being Earnest (Barn Theatre & Turbine Theatre, London), Private Peaceful (Barn Theatre & Bristol Old Vic) & co-produced the 2020 UK tour of Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense with The Theatre Chipping Norton.
Since the first national lockdown, the Barn Theatre has seen over 330,000 audience members watch their online theatrical content. Their offerings included the digital premiere of the theatre’s Built by Barn production of Shakespeare’s Henry V, the Shakespeare in lockdown series Bard From The Barn, which has featured the work of over 150 creatives including 36 2020 drama school graduates in their second series, and the digital concert series The Barn Presents which celebrated upcoming British musical theatre writers.
In 2020 The Barn Theatre also launched their first outdoor theatre season BarnFest, which included productions of Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful and the Kander & Ebb musical revue The World Goes ‘Round.
The theatre continues to work extensively with disadvantaged communities, working with charities including Cirencester Housing for Young People (CHYP), The Churn Project and Age UK Gloucestershire.
LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE
Located in the centre of Huddersfield, the Lawrence Batley Theatre presents a wide ranging year-round programme of in-house and visiting productions, from drama and contemporary dance to circus and pantomime. The theatre’s team is dedicated to opening their venue, skills and networks to nurture talent, local and national – to nourish artists and help them achieve excellence. Pioneering and acclaimed theatre companies Dark Horse and Chol are based at the theatre, and a commitment to community-based participation work is at the heart of what the Lawrence Batley Theatre does.
At a time when many arts organisations went dark, the Lawrence Batley Theatre has been at the forefront of digital innovation during the cultural shift caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and has risen above many other organisations while continuing to adapt and bring original online theatre to the world. Within days of lockdown, the theatre had launched their completely free online channel, LBTV, filled with workshops and masterclasses, storytelling sessions and backstage videos – reaching over 20,000 people. Alongside their free programme, they produced two online plays; The Understudy and Nigel Slater’s Toast, which welcomed digital audiences from over 40 countries. Last summer, they also launched the Charlotte Holmes Adventure Box, a new interactive theatrical experience for children aged 7 – 12 years old to enjoy from home. More recently the theatre premiered Henry Filloux-Bennett’s Netflix-style online murder mystery What a Carve Up! which was enjoyed by over 7,000 households across the globe. Throughout January the theatre offered free creative content from movement sessions to wholesome recipes to encourage positivity through creative practice.
NEW WOLSEY THEATRE
With a 400 seat main auditorium, the New Wolsey Theatre is nationally renowned for the quality and diversity of its productions, both as a sole producer and in collaboration with a diverse range of artists and companies, for example as a producing partner in the team behind What A Carve Up! The New Wolsey’s uniquely blended (live and online) 2020 Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto The Snow Queen pushed the boundaries of what can be achieved for a mix of live and online audiences – and received 5* (The Stage, British Theatre) reviews as a result. The New Wolsey is a leading player in the development of new musicals, staging world premieres of Once, It’s a Wonderful Life, 20th Century Boy, Mods & Rox, Miss Nightingale, Midsummer Songs, Oxy & the Morons and Our Blue Heaven.
As a founder member of the ground breaking Ramps On The Moon the New Wolsey is part of a consortium of theatres striving to normalise the presence of deaf and disabled people on and off the stage. The New Wolsey Theatre received £245,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund (DCMS/Arts Council England) in October 2020 and is regularly funded by Arts Council England, Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council.
OXFORD PLAYHOUSE
In more "usual" times, Oxford Playhouse, one of the country's leading regional theatres, programmes its 640-seat mainstage, 50 seat studio and works across the city under the banner of its offsite programme Playhouse Plays Out. Its work revolves around its vision to be a theatre for everyone and mission to present inspirational performance as a leading cultural institution for Oxfordshire and beyond.
Since March 2020, OP has stayed connected to its audiences and communities by delivering creative and innovative projects and events online and digitally, through its lockdown Playhouse at Home programme and Autumn 2020 & Spring 2021 live and streamed seasons of work. The team continues to work with its community partners including Oxford Association for the Blind, Age UK and Be Free Young Carers to name a few.
Find out more at oxfordplayhouse.com
Oxford Playhouse is a registered charity, no. 900039
THEATR CLWYD
The award-winning Theatr Clwyd is Wales’ biggest producing theatre. Since 1976 Theatr Clwyd has created exceptional theatre from its home in Flintshire, North Wales. Driven by the vision and dynamism of award-winning Artistic Director Tamara Harvey and Executive Director Liam Evans-Ford, Theatr Clwyd pushes theatrical boundaries creating world-class productions.
In 2021 Theatr Clwyd was named as The Stage’s ‘Regional Theatre Of The Year’. Major recent successes have included co-producing Home, I’m Darling with the National Theatre, which won Best New Comedy at the Olivier Awards and was nominated in five categories, the UK Theatre Award-winning musical The Assassination of Katie Hopkins, the site-specific, immersive Great Gatsby and the Menier Chocolate Factory co-production of Orpheus Descending.
Theatr Clwyd is one of only four theatres in the UK to build sets and props, make costumes and paint scenery in-house. Their impressive team of workshop, wardrobe and scenic artists, props makers and technicians ensure the skills vital to a vibrant theatre industry are nurtured right in the heart of Wales, developing the theatre makers of the future. In addition to this, Theatr Clwyd hosts an artist development programme, trainee technicians’ scheme and an eighteen month traineeship for directors, to develop the Artistic Directors of the future.
Theatr Clwyd works in the community across all art forms and is recognised as a cultural leader for its cross generational theatre groups, work in youth justice and diverse programme of arts, health and wellbeing.
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.