THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY

By Oscar Wilde

Directed by Zoe Seaton

Big Telly Theatre Company continues its celebration of Irish Classics.

Big Telly's adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray will bring together the company's contemporary approach to popular Irish Classics and its reputation for theatrical innovation and visual flair. The story of a man who preserves his youth and is feted by society while his portrait deteriorates with age and corruption, is a beauteous, sinister fable with keen contemporary relevance.

Dorian Gray's wish of eternal youth comes crashing down on him when his sense of morality is lost to a seedy world of decadence. The deterioration of his portrait represents the destruction of the soul, and this macabre tale of corruption and murder culminates in his own self-destructive death.

The central issues of how we deal with temptation, conscience, and the process of growing old in a society obsessed with indulgence, consumerism and youth are all major current preoccupations, which will have impact and meaning for a contemporary audience.

The Picture of Dorian Gray will be touring Ireland 3rd February - 11th March 2006.

Venues include:

The Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, Friday 3 & Saturday 4 February at 8pm. Box Office Number: 028 6632 5440

Old Museum Arts Centre, Belfast, Monday 6 - Wednesday 8 February at 8pm. Box Office Number: 028 9023 3332

Clotworthy Arts Centre, Antrim, Thursday 9 February at 7.30pm. Box Office Number: 028 9448 1338

The Market Place Theatre, Armagh, Friday 10 & Saturday 11 February at 8pm. Box Office Number: 028 3752 1821

Civic Theatre, Tallaght - Monday 13, Saturday 18 February at 8pm. Box Office 01 462 7477

Garage Theatre, Monaghan, Tuesday 21 February at 8pm. Box Office: 047 81597

Burnavon Arts & Cultural Centre, Cookstown, Wednesday 22 February at 8pm. Box Office: 028 8676 9949

An Grianan, Letterkenny, Thursday 23 Febraury at 8pm. Box Office 074 91 20777

Riverbank, Newbridge, Friday 24 February at 8pm & Saturday 25 February 2006 at 3pm. Box Office: 045 448333

Theatre Royal, Waterford, Wednesday 1 & Thursday 2 March at 8pm. Box Office:051 874402

Friar's Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Friday 3 March at 8pm. Box Office 063 98727

Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, Saturday 4 March at 8pm. Box Office 057 866 3355

Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny, Monday 6 & Tuesday 7 March at 8pm. Box Office 056 776 1674

Riverside Theatre, Coleraine Thursday 9 - Saturday 11 March at 8pm. Box Office 028 7032 3232

IRISH CLASSIC REVIEWS

"This Irish born and bred theatre company perform this play with realistic credibility, portraying the characters sympathetically and performing the piece with a real understanding of all things Irish. [Big Telly] transform Synge's dialogue into lyrical poetry."
The Stage, Playboy of the Western World, Basingstoke Revival, 2004

"An evening of barely controlled craziness, which contains some genuine gems of humour and wonder. Strange, very strange."
The Irish Times, The Thief, Irish Tour, 2004

"...a production rich in life's zest which laughs along with Synge's creations. Seaton's love for the piece comes through, truly, madly deeply."
News Letter, Playboy of the Western World, Irish Tour, 2003