In 2026 the English Theatre of Hamburg celebrates its 50th anniversary. Congratiulations and many happy returns! No doubt during the last fifty years the ETH has become an integral part of Hamburg’s cultural scene. This year’s season opens with the adaption of Oscar Wilde’s „The Picture of Dorian Gray.“ Dear spectator you will greatly enjoy this wonderful performance directed by Paul Glaser.
Portrait of a dandy
We meet young and beautiful Dorian Gray, offspring of a wealthy English family, in the elegant house of Lord Henry Wotton. He has his portrait made by a famous artist named Basil Hallward. During his sittings he is introduced to Lord Henry Wotton, an immoral aristocrat who is fascinated by Dorian’s good looks. Soon Lord Henry becomes Dorian’s mentor who convinces his new friend that beauty is the most important thing in life overshadowing old-fashioned bourgeois morals. Without thinking twice Dorian follows his cynic friend’s advice to abandon young and innocent Sybil Vane, a pretty but poor actress to whom he had promised marriage. Her suicide does not impress Dorian at all. Instead of mourning her death he travels abroad and seeks pleasure on the Continent.
On Dorian’s return to London Basil Hallward presents his portrait to his model. The painter is very proud of his work that shows Dorian in the prime of his youth. Dorian no doubt is a flawless beauty. Lord Henry Wotton’s influence on Dorian has meanwhile become toxic. Dorian is beguiled by his own attractiveness and his greatest wish is to stay forever young and beautiful. Old age shall never ruin his good looks. Instead the picture shall age for him.
A wish is granted
As time goes by Dorian’s friends age and lose their attractiveness, whereas he himself stays as young and beautiful as ever. Only his portrait which he hides in the attic of his house discloses his amoral life that is filled with nights in London’s opium dens and relationships with criminals and prostitutes. He even commits murder in cold blood. When Basil Hallward, the creator of Dorian’s portrait, dares a glimpse at his masterpiece, he is deeply shocked by the sight of it. Dorian does not hesitate a moment to stab him to death.
The final move
One day Dorian takes all his courage to look at his portrait. He is horrified by what he sees. In a frantic mood he tries to cut the picture to pieces. But the picture – his alter ego – hits back and kills him instead. When the servants hear his screams and hurry up the stairs they find an old extremely ugly man with wrinkles in his face. They only identify him as their master by the rings on his hands. But the portrait stands undamaged and shows Dorian Gray in his flawless beauty, such as a great artist of his time had once painted him.
Thanks to Paul Glaser and four outstanding actors this complex story could be packed into a two-hour performance. It is a pity that Oscar Wilde himself could not attend. He would have greatly enjoyed Joshua Campbell-Hart as Dorian Gray since his appearance and acting technique fit the part to perfection. The other three actors change in no time from one part to the next. Jess Saunders is to be seen in eight roles, be it pretty innocent Sybil Vane, snobbish Lady Agatha or simple Mrs. Leaf. She further jumps from high-brow aristocrat English to thick Cockney slang and even masters a broad Yorkshire accent. No less perfect in their parts: William Osbeldiston-Hawkes as sensitive Basil Hallward and Ben Kenzie in the role of Lord Henry Wotton, the cynic immoral dandy. Thank you all very much for this wonderful evening.
A few words about the author
Oscar Fingal O’Flaherty Wills Wilde was born on October 16. 1854, in Dublin. The very gifted writer and playwright started a great carreer in England. His wit and talent made him quickly the darling of London
Society. He once mocked his British colleagues by claiming that Englsh literature owned its fame to Irish poets like him and a couple of compatriots. He certainly referred to Jonathan Swift, among others. By the way, George Bernhard Shaw expressed the same opinion years later. However, this was not the reason why British Society sent him to prison for two years. Homosexuality and his intimacy with the offspring of a noble family finally broke his neck. Oscar Wilde, the „fallen angel“, died in his exile in Paris in 1900 at the age of 46 – alone and penniless.
Last performane of „The Picture of Dorian Gray“ on October 31, 2026. Tickets under phone number 040-227 70 89 or online unter www.englishtheatre.de
Next premiere: „Deathtrap“ by Ira Levin on November 20, 2026