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by Guy Wilson, based on the novel by Oscar Wilde

 

The artist Basil Hallward has painted a portrait of a beautiful young man, Dorian Gray. When he sees the portrait, Dorian wishes that he could always remain as beautiful as he appears in the portrait – and that the picture, instead, should grow old and ugly.
The wish is granted! Dorian lives a wild life of excess and debauchery, stooping even to blackmail and murder – but he remains young and beautiful. Meanwhile, the picture shows all the corruption of his soul…

Oscar Wilde's fascinating novel is a modern version of the Faust legend, and a classic of late nineteenth-century literature, expressing the decadence and the aestheticism of the fin de siècle.

 

 

Photos of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'

Saison 19/20

 

 

Extract from the script 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'

Henry: You are a wonderful creation. You have the most marvellous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having. Some day, when you are old and wrinkled and ugly you will feel it. The gods have been good to you. But what the gods give they quickly take away. Time is jealous of you. Don't squander the gold of your days. You are glad you have met me, Mr. Gray.
Dorian: Yes, but shall I always be glad?
Henry: 'Always' is a dreadful word. People are so fond of using it. Every romance is spoiled by trying to make it last forever.
Basil: The portrait is finished.
Dorian (looks at the portrait): How sad. I shall grow old, but this picture will always remain young. If only it were the other way and I could always be young while the picture grew old. For that - for that - I would give my soul.
Basil: Don't you like it?
Dorian: I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die.

by Peter Shaffer

 

The sensitive and inexperienced Bob has asked a girl out for the first time. He asks his worldly-wise friend Ted to help him to make a good impression on her – a disastrous idea, which leads to a heart-rending tangle of misunderstandings, hurt emotions, and lost hopes.

 

 

Photos of 'The Private Ear'

 

 

Extract from the script 'The Private Ear'

Doreen: I'm not too early?
Bob: No, just right. [Bob shuts the door] Actually, it's only just half past. You're very punctual.
Doreen: Unpunctuality's the thief of time, as my dad says.
Bob: To coin a phrase.
Doreen: Pardon?
Bob: Let me take your coat.
Doreen: Thank you. [She slips it off.]
Bob: [Taking the coat]: That's pretty.
Doreen: D'you like it?
Bob: I do, yes. Is it real? I mean real leopard.
Doreen: It's ocelot.
Bob: Oh! [Imitating Ted] Very chic.
Doreen: Pardon?

by Neil LaBute

 

How far would you go for love? What price would you be willing to pay? In this new variation on the 'Pygmalion' theme, American author Neil LaBute examines the borderline between life and art, and the nature of love. This gripping and entertaining drama peels back the skin of a love-affair between two students, revealing the raw meat and gristle of the relationship.

 

Neil LaBute is America's most prominent contemporary dramatist, and his plays have been translated into many languages.

 

Photos of 'The Shape of Things'

 

 

Extract from the script 'The Shape of Things'

Evelyn: My graduate advisor gave me this advice five months ago... “Strive to make art, but change the world:” Pretty wise words, I thought, at the time, and so, being a good little student, that's what I set out to do. As I looked around my world for something to change, I knew I'd been given a tall order. “Change the world.” So, I decided to do the next best thing, which was change someone's world. I mean, that's a start, right? With that in mind, I present to you this, my newest work. It is a human sculpture on which I've worked these past eighteen weeks, and of whom I'm very proud. The piece itself – him – is untitled since I think, I hope, that it will mean something different to each of you and, frankly, anyone who sees it. On our first official encounter after he asked me out, I coaxed him into eating his first vegetarian meal. Well, as vegetarian as a spinach-and-mushroom calzone can be... Anyway, he told me that for him it was a huge deal and it does mark the beginning of my systematic makeover, or “sculpting”, if you will, of my two very pliable materials of choice: the human flesh and the human will.
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