Oscar is an innovative ballet by Christopher Wheeldon that brings literary icon Oscar Wilde’s wit, the drama of his trials and the beauty of his creations to life on the stage. It will be streamed worldwide on 19 November 2024 for the Sydney Opera House.
Christopher Wheeldon is a Tony Award-winning choreographer, and collaborators include the composer Joby Talbot and Olivier Award-winning set and costume designer Jean-Marc Puissant.
This innovative and poignant ballet promises to bring the wit, charm, and complexity of Wilde’s world to the stage.
Bringing to life the opulence and decadence of 1880s London society
Oscar weaves the playwright’s personal experiences alongside the richly textured worlds and characters he imagined. Taking inspiration from two of Oscar Wilde’s beloved stories, The Nightingale and the Rose and The Picture of Dorian Gray, Christopher Wheeldon masterfully weaves Wilde’s real-life triumphs and trials through emotional and captivating choreography.
Wilde was raised in Dublin, yet he took the Londonb’s glamorous social circles by storm. His fame was at its height when he was sent to prison in 1895 after having been found guilty in an early instance of the ‘celebrity trial’. An extraordinary genius, Wilde’s work continues to inspire and delight 130 yrs later. His life, stories, and sparkling turn of phrase laid the groundwork for Wheeldon’s visionary ballet.
Directed by David Hallberg, choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, composed by Toby Talbot with set and costumes by Jean-Marc Puissant
The Australian Ballet Artistic Director David Hallberg says, “There’s no denying that any full-length creation by Christopher Wheeldon is an immense artistic moment for the industry. I’m thrilled that Wheeldon has selected The Australian Ballet to premiere this striking new work. This production will offer audiences a visually stunning and emotionally resonant journey into the world of one of history’s most iconic literary figures. Oscar will be a treat for both ballet enthusiasts and admirers of Oscar Wilde’s literary legacy.”
Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon says, “To build the story of a seminal cultural figure from scratch – and through dance – is no mean feat, and I am honoured that The Australian Ballet will be the company to bringOscarto the stage for the very first time.”
“Working with David Hallberg and The Australian Ballet’s artists and creative team has been an incredible experience. I look forward to seeing the production come to life in September and can’t wait to reveal our interpretation of this literary legend on the stage,” continued Wheeldon.
Wheeldon will be joined by his frequent creative collaborators, composer Joby Talbot and set and costume designer Jean-Marc Puissant.
Acclaimed film and ballet composer Joby Talbot (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,Wonka) has composed a brand-new score for the production that will be debuted by Orchestra Victoria.
Olivier Award-winning set and costume designer Jean-Marc Puissant brings to life the richly textured worlds and characters Wilde imagined. The costumes and sets are meticulously created on-site at the Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre and The Australian Ballet’s Production Centre in Melbourne.
Christopher Wheeldon is one of the most highly sought-after choreographers in the world. He has created works for some of the world’s major ballet companies, including The Bolshoi Ballet, The Mariinsky Ballet, and The Paris Opera Ballet. Among Wheeldon’s many awards are two Tony Awards, multiple London Critics’ Circle Awards, and two Olivier Awards, and two of his productions have received the Benois de la Danse. In 2016, he was named an OBE and made an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Brimming with wit, scandal and imagination, Oscar brings the story of an infamous dandy to life
Oscar Wilde has been a compelling figure throughout history. Adored for his writings yet vilified for his sexuality, Wilde remains ever present in the cultural zeitgeist. Meet the characters that inspired his fairytales and took him from bourgeois socialite to condemned prisoner with this groundbreaking new narrative ballet from Christopher Wheeldon.
Taking inspiration from two of Oscar Wilde’s stories, The Nightingale and the Rose and The Picture of Dorian Gray, Christopher Wheeldon masterfully weaves Wilde’s real-life triumphs and trials through the choreography.
Devoted father and husband, Oscar is cast into the world of the social elite as his writings and wit allow him entry into the exclusive circles of 19th-century aristocracy.
As Oscar’s fame accelerates, his descent into the hedonistic underbelly of London’s nightlife takes hold, culminating in his downfall and ultimate criminal conviction. Oscar’s incarceration for crimes of “gross indecency” acts as the backdrop, and his gaol cell is a stark real-life interruption within the writer’s vivid fairytales.
Oscar is a fascinating story about one of the world’s most loved storytellers.
Main feature image: Oscar played by Callum Linnane. Photo credit Simon Eeles.
