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# REVIEW: The Picture of Dorian Gray – Barn Theatre online
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/review-the-picture-of-dorian-gray-barn-theatre-online/
- Published: 2021-03-16T18:45:14.000Z
- Updated: 2021-03-16T18:12:47.000Z
- Description: Brian Butler is drawn into the word of online influencers -one of whom would sell his soul
- Author: Brian Butler
- Tags: Arts, Reviews, Television, Theatre, Joanna Lumley, Russell Tovey, Stephen Fry

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/600x600.jpg)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)

In the week which marks the anniversary of theatre lockdown the enterprising **Barn Theatre, Cirencester** has joined forces with 4 other venues to present a fascinating modern take on Oscar Wilde’s novel about a debauched young man who gives his body and soul for eternal beauty.

Writer Henry Filloux-Bennett transforms the story from Victorian London to lockdown now and turns the pretty boy Dorian Gray (Fionn Whitehead) into a vacuous social influencer, followed by more and more people fascinated by his charisma and youthful looks.

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/fionn-whitehead600.png)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)

Whereas the original has Dorian’s physical decay trapped in a painting, here his friend Basil ( Russell Tovey) gives him a memory stick with the anti-ageing app on it. The parallels work remarkably well. Opening with an all-knowing interviewer ( Stephen Fry ) we get a backward look at the tragedy through the words of philanthropist Lady Narborough, played as a delicious tease by Joanna Lumley and a conflicting interview with fellow debauchee Harry, played in a beautiful laid-back, no worries style by Alfred Enoch.

There are lots of Wildeian aphorisms sprinkled through the modern text and clever sideswipes at university quarantines and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/alfred-enoch600.png)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)

Directed tightly by **Tamara Harvey** and filmed in lockdown, the presentational quality is stunning, with individual performances captured separately. The on-screen special effects add to the close-up drama and it’s difficult to see just how this could be replicated in a standard stage performance, but I guess it’s testament to the ingenuity theatre-makers have had to use during this last year to keep performances alive.

Fionn Whitehead is moody, engaging and always good to look at, and Russell Tovey is often a disembodied voice but convincing as the architect of Dorian’s downfall. Emma McDonald is an equally engaging student actress who loses her way as Dorian’s love interest Sybil.

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/joanna-lumley600.png)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)

The production is a joint venture with **Theatr Clwyd, Oxford Playhouse,** the **Lawrence Batley Theatre,** Huddersfield and the **New Wolsey**, Ipswich . It’s available online until 31 March.

It’s a gripping modern Faustian tale that’s not to be missed.

More information and tickets – [pictureofdoriangray.com](https://www.pictureofdoriangray.com/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)