The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Arts & Culture will present a new adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, directed by UJ’s Resident Director Jade Bowers. The production, which runs from 4 to 16 March 2025, will be staged at the Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre at the UJ Arts Centre in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.
This adaptation, by Neil Bartlett, explores the themes of youth, desire, and moral corruption in Wilde’s classic story through a contemporary lens. The production is part of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture’s (FADA) Interdisciplinary Theatre Programme, which was introduced in 2017 by Dean Professor Federico Freschi. Second-year students from FADA have contributed to the visual aspects of the production, including set, prop, and costume design.
The story follows Dorian Gray, a young man granted eternal youth, whose pursuit of pleasure leads to moral decay. Bartlett’s adaptation delves into the provocative themes of sexual and moral freedoms, while reimagining Dorian Gray’s descent into ruin.
The cast includes Jaques De Silva, Andreas Damm, Sanelisiwe Yekani, and Liezl De Kock. Students from the UJ Arts Academy will collaborate with the Market Theatre Foundation’s Kwasha! Theatre Company. Two performances will feature South African Sign Language (SASL) interpretation to make the production accessible to hearing-impaired audiences. The performances will be delivered by trained SASL interpreters from Yellow Owl.
