Book Club · 28 Jan 2025
UJ Arts & Culture presents The Picture of Dorian Gray
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA), is thrilled to present The Picture of Dorian Gray—a fresh adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s timeless classic by Neil Bartlett. Directed by UJ’s Resident Director, Jade Bowers, this captivating production will immerse audiences in a world where reality collides with morality.
📅 Performance Dates: 4 – 16 March 2025
📍 Venue: Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre, UJ Arts Centre, Auckland Park, Johannesburg
A Unique Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Emerging from FADA’s innovative Interdisciplinary Theatre Programme—conceived by Dean Professor Federico Freschi in 2017—this production represents a unique collaborative endeavour. Second-year students across FADA have collectively crafted the production’s visual landscape, designing sets, props, and costumes that transform Wilde’s dark narrative into a breathtaking spectacle.
A Timeless Story Reimagined
The Picture of Dorian Gray follows a young man blessed with eternal youth, whose reckless pursuit of pleasure reveals the corrosive nature of unchecked desire. Neil Bartlett’s adaptation excavates the original text’s provocative core, lively dialogue, and bold exploration of sexual and moral freedoms, reimagining Dorian Gray’s descent into moral dissolution through a contemporary lens.
🗣️ Resident Director, Jade Bowers, shares her insight:
“This adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray explores the boundaries of both the original text and our own perceptions of beauty, desire, and morality. By collaborating with FADA’s talented students, we’ve created a visually striking and thought-provoking experience that brings Wilde’s dark parable into a contemporary context.”
A Stellar Cast & Collaborative Performance
🎭 The production features an ensemble cast including:
- Jaques De Silva
- Andreas Damm
- Sanelisiwe Yekani
- Liezl De Kock
Additionally, the show will feature students from the UJ Arts Academy and members of The Market Theatre Foundation Kwasha! Theatre Company, a key collaborator of UJ Arts & Culture.
Making Theatre More Inclusive
UJ Arts & Culture is committed to inclusivity, ensuring accessibility for diverse audiences. As part of this initiative, two performances will feature South African Sign Language (SASL) interpretation, providing hearing-impaired audiences with a fully immersive theatre experience. Trained SASL interpreters from Yellow Owl will collaborate to bring this adaptation to life in a truly inclusive manner.
Book Your Tickets Now!
🎟️ Ticket Prices:
- General Access: R120
- Students: R80
🎭 Prepare for a visually compelling and emotionally charged experience that challenges perceptions of beauty, desire, and morality—lingering long after the final curtain falls.
Contact Information
📩 For Media Inquiries:
Marketing Manager – Lakin Morgan-Baatjies
📩 For School & Group Bookings:
Luna August