DORIAN: The Musical
Dorian Gray. A lonely boy, bereft of love, wants the world to notice him.
When he becomes an overnight sensation, he discovers that all his wishes have come true. So why does his life seem so empty?
The charismatic music producer, ‘Lord’ Harry Wotton, wants Dorian to be immortal. Baz Hallward, the celebrity photographer, wants to capture his soul. Sibyl Vane, a young opera singer, just wants to love him.
But Dorian feels cursed. He believes he has sold his soul. He is the ‘King of Black Hearts’. Trapped in his eternal youth he wants to change the course of his life.
But is it too late?
Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” this exciting new musical adaptation gives the Gothic tale a Glam, modern twist with a newly composed score that sears through the action, propelled by influences from Bowie to Brecht.
A modern, queer fairy-tale, it challenges perceptions of gender and identity and the dangers of social media in a world where youth and immortality are thrust into the spotlight.
WHERE THE YELLOW ROSES GROW
from a live recording of DORIAN: The Musical, on 10th August 2024
DORIAN: The Musical
Performing at West End Live - Sunday 23 June 2024
“Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was
something tragic”
Oscar Wilde “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
Alfie Friedman stars as the eponymous Dorian in the world premiere of a brand-new, modern, musical retelling of The Oscar Wilde classic novel.
A lonely boy pines for the world to notice him. When suddenly he becomes an overnight musical sensation, he discovers the dark side of his wish - even when he has everything he has ever wanted, his life is somehow still empty.
DORIAN: The Musical will premiere at Southwark Playhouse Borough (The Large) for a five-week run from July 4th to 10th August 2024
DORIAN: The musical stars Alfie Friedman as the lead role of Dorian, alongside George Renshaw, Gabrielle lewis-Dodson, Leeroy Boone, megan Hill and Rhys Lambert.
This striking piece of new musical theatre skilfully explores the dark side of eternal youth with a modern twist. A fully 21st-century production of the Victorian classic incorporates rock music and social media while remaining true to the bohemian thrill of the original.
This modern queer fairy-tale follows Dorian Gray, a wannabe rock star with grandiose dreams who strikes a dangerous bargain to achieve success. Inspired by the classic Oscar Wilde novel, this musical retelling explores the heartache as Dorian faces the prospect of eternal glory which opens a Pandora's Box of love, lust and corruption. This show gves the Gothic story a glam-rock twist as the young musician is pulled in every direction by his fans, record producers, photographers - slowly warping his impressionable mind.
Is Dorian cursed?
Has he sold his soul - and can he save it?
We follow him on his quest for his true identity as he falls further and further into the belief that to love him is to die. Is it too late to change the course of life for the "King of Black Hearts", as his adoring fans call him?
This aymospheric and ambitious interpretation is fully updated for 2024 audiences - darker, more explicit, and overtly queer; society's rules during Oscar Wilde's life necessitated that he had no choice but to hesitate over the extent of the homoerotic content he should include in his novel.
DORIAN: The Musical has the freedom to explore this subtext.
DORIAN: The musical began life as a reading at Café Royal, in the same room where Oscar Wilde staged his own readings. An earlier version was cancelled two days before it was due to open in March 2020 and that version was made available to stream on 'Stream.Theatre' during lockdown in 2021. It is still available to stream on 'BroadwayOnDemand'
After a workshop at The Other Palace, this version is moodier, edgier, and ultimately more glam.
Praise for the streamed production of Dorian 2021:
Musical Theatre Review
“… Yes! This is what we live for…”
Everything Theatre – 4 Stars
“… will have you on the edge of your seat…”
“… the show is enthralling… goosebump inducing…”
The Reviews Hub – 4 Stars
“… decadent, naughty and thoroughly amoral…”
“… the essence of Wilde’s novel comes across loud and clear…”
DORIAN: The Musical
Writer: Linnie Reedman
Composer: Joe Evans
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