In Proforca Theatre’ new adaptation of The Ballad of Reading Gaol, running at London’s Theatre N16 23 July to 2 August 2018, Oscar Wilde’s original poem is melded with five pieces of new writing. Who’s Hero, Human, Monster, Guardian and Innocent in this immersive new staging? Watch the series of teaser trailers below – and then get booking!
Oscar Wilde wrote “The Ballad of Reading Gaol”, his last work, in 1897. At the time, he was in exile in France, having been released from Reading Gaol where he was incarcerated for two years’ hard labour after being convicted for “gross indecency” (i.e. homosexual acts, which were then illegal)
In this adaptation, the original text of Oscar Wilde’s 1897 “The Ballad of Reading Gaol” is combined with five new pieces of writing to tell the stories of five men’s oppression, incarceration and hope. It melds poetry, storytelling and physical theatre to create a much darker, more confrontational, visceral and thought-provoking piece: an exploration of the deprivation of liberty experienced by prisoners at the turn of the century.
Originally staged by Proforca in November 2017 at the Lion & Unicorn, Reading Gaol has been expanded to be performed in an immersive, traverse style in Theatre N16’s new performance space. Adapted by the company, it features new material by Catrin Keeler, James Lewis, Simon Marshall and Erin Read. Helmed by artistic director David Brady, the cast are James Vincent (as Monster), Malcolm Jeffries (Guardian), Nic James (Human), Miles Parker (Innocent) and Nick Cope(Hero).
Trailers
“I can’t remember a time when breathing didn’t feel like drowning, and living didn’t feel like dying”: Nick Cope plays Hero in Reading Gaol.
“I don’t get guests, I just get ghosts…”: Malcolm Jeffries is Guardian in Reading Gaol.
“There is no honour in battle, there is no honour in death. They say it will be glorious. They lie…”: Nic James is Human in Reading Gaol.
