Classic Spring have announced a series of pre-show talks for the run of A Woman Of No Importance at the Vaudeville Theatre, with hosts including Stephen Fry, Frank McGuinness, Franny Moyle and Wilde’s very own grandson Merlin Holland.
Holland will give the first address, offering his unique insight in a talk entitled ‘The Remarkable Reputation of Oscar Wilde’ on Saturday 14 October (all talks starting at 6pm). He will be followed by Fry on Thursday 19 October, who will reflect on ‘Playing Oscar’ having portrayed Wilde on the big screen in ‘Wilde’ (1997).
Also included in the series are Frank McGuinness, who will consider Wilde alongside Ibsen and Strindberg in ‘Wilde The European’ on Saturday 11 November, and Franny Moyle (author of ‘Constance: The Tragic and Scandalous Life of Mrs. Oscar Wilde’) exploring Wilde’s women on Thursday 7 December. Tickets for the talks can be purchased through the venue’s website.
Further casting for A Woman Of No Importance has also been announced, with Emma Fielding (credits including This Is England ’90) and RSC regular Dominic Rowan (ITV’s Law & Order), as well as Crystal Clarke, Harry Lister-Smith, Sam Cox, William Mannering, Paul Rider and Phoebe Fildes joining the production, alongside the previously announced Eve Best, Anne Reid, Eleanor Bron and William Gaunt.
Classic Spring is the new theatre company from Dominic Dromgoole, former Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe. Its first season is a year-long celebration of Oscar Wilde that aims to offer a fuller picture of the man, artist, much-loved playwright and brilliant renegade.
Dromgoole himself will direct the first play A Woman Of No Importance, playing at the Vaudeville Theatre from 6 October to 30 December.
Multi-award-winning actor, director, comedian and playwright Kathy Burke will then direct Lady Windermere’s Fan, which plays from 12 January 2018.