SARAH SNOOK to return to stage in UK PREMIERE of THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY
The smash-hit production of The Picture of Dorian Gray will make its UK premiere in January at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, starring the critically acclaimed Sarah Snook in a ground-breaking adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s only novel.
This stunning modern reworking of Wilde’s devastatingly brilliant story is adapted and directed by Sydney Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Kip Williams.
The Picture of Dorian Gray will begin performances on Tuesday 23 January 2024, with a Press Night on Wednesday 31 January 2024.
The Picture of Dorian Gray goes on sale today, Thursday 22 June via Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Wilde’s timeless text is revolutionised by William’s celebrated collision of form, employing an explosive interplay of video and theatre through an intricately choreographed collection of on-stage cameras bringing to life a dizzying 26 characters.
Marking her hotly anticipated return to the London stage following her searing debut in Matthew Warchus’ 2016 production of The Master Builder opposite Ralph Fiennes, Australian star Sarah Snook will play every character in the production.
Snook was most recently seen as Shiv Roy in HBO’s hit series Succession, a role that earned her global acclaim. Over Succession’s four seasons she received a Golden Globe Award and a Critics Choice Award and was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
In Australia, Snook has won two Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards for her work in film and television. She received a nomination for the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress for her performance in 2015’s The Beautiful Lie and a Helpmann Award nomination for Best Female Actor in a Play for her performance in Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Saint Joan.
Snook:
I am elated to return to the London stage in such an astonishing piece of theatre. From Oscar Wilde’s remarkable original text to Kip Williams’ stunning adaptation, this story of morality, innocence, narcissism, and consequence is going to be thrilling to recreate for a new audience. I can’t wait.
Williams’ interpretation of beauty, excess, and a deal with the devil holds striking resonance in our current era, holding a mirror to 21st century society’s narcissistic obsession with youth.
Enrapturing audiences, the acclaimed Australian premiere season in 2020 was extended twice in Sydney and played to critical and audience acclaim throughout the country.
Director and Adapter, Kip Williams:
In creating a new piece of theatre like The Picture of Dorian Gray you always hope to have the opportunity to share it with a wider audience. I am so excited for theatre lovers in London to experience our show and am thrilled to have the extraordinary Sarah Snook bringing to life the many characters of Oscar Wilde’s remarkable story.
Michael Cassel, producer of the West End season:
I knew, from the very first time I saw The Picture of Dorian Gray, that it deserved a global audience, Kip Williams’ genius production is transformative, innovative, transfixing and entertaining and I am beyond excited that the inimitable Sarah Snook will star in this incredible production.
Co-producer Adam Kenwright:
This thrilling new look at one of Oscar Wilde’s most seminal works is a benchmark work of modern theatre and I am delighted to be joining my good friend Michael Cassel and team bringing it to London. A huge degree of thanks must go to Theatre Royal Haymarket’s Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen. We are enlivened by their vision and their partnership in bringing The Picture of Dorian Gray to London.
The Picture of Dorian Gray’s London premiere season is part of a first of its kind partnership between Sydney Theatre Company and Michael Cassel Group created with the intention to share STC’s innovative works with audiences around the globe.
Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke MP celebrated partnerships like this which create pathways for original Australian works to be seen by audiences everywhere. From the standing ovation at the first performance it was clear that this was a production that belonged on stages all over the world “Michael Cassel Group, Kindred Partners and Sydney Theatre Company are making sure that one of the world’s great works of literature, combined with the best of Australian creativity, is about to take the West End by storm.
Sydney Theatre Company’s The Picture of Dorian Gray is adapted and directed by Kip Williams, based on the novel by Oscar Wilde. The Picture of Dorian Gray stars Sarah Snook. Design is by Marg Horwell, Lighting Design by Nick Schlieper, Composition & Sound Design by Clemence Williams, Video Design by David Bergman and Eryn Jean Norvill is the Dramaturg & Creative Associate. The London season is produced by Michael Cassel, Adam Kenwright, Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen, Daryl Roth, Amanda Lipitz and Henry Tisch, Jonathan Church.
Season Details
Venue: Theatre Royal Haymarket
Date: 23 Jan- 13 Apr 2024
For more information click Here
Photo Credit: Alexi Lubomirski
