15 h. ago The young Oscar Wilde’s Russian revolutionary drama reveals a playwright divided

Vera; or, The Nihilists concerns a plot to kill a tsar but after Alexander II was assassinated, its London premiere was cancelled. Now receiving a rare production, it captures his conflict between ethics and aestheticsWho wrote the following: “When private property is abolished, there will be no necessity for crime”? In one of his plays the same writer has a female revolutionary cry: “How easy is it for a king to kill his people by thousands but we cannot rid ourselves of one crowned man in Europe.” If I reveal that the writer was a London-based Irishman, most people would assume it was Bernard Shaw. In fact, it was Oscar Wilde and, while the first quote comes from his essay The Soul of Man Under Socialism, the last is from his play Vera; or, The Nihilists which is to get a rare professional production at the Brockley Jack Studio theatre, south-east London, in September.The play itself is virtually unknown even to Wildean devotees. It was written in 1879 and loosely based on the sto...

Events

3 d. ago Why does Emma Stone look so different? As fans go wild for Oscar

A cosmetics doctor has shared what he believes Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone has had 'done' after speculation online.

Politics

6 d. ago Adolescence child star’s new role in BBC drama revealed in first

The harrowing original drama, from Time screenwriter Jimmy McGovern, explores the impact of grooming and sexual abuse on one family

Events

7 d. ago Fans 'crying' as fate of beloved Ryan Murphy drama finally revealed

Doctor Odyssey viewers have been awaiting the green light for season two

Sport

1 week ago Clueless review – Alicia Silverstone and Brittany Murphy are class acts in 90s Jane Austen parallel

Amy Heckerling’s high school romcoming-of-age classic, composed entirely of quotable funny lines, remains a sophisticated pleasure 30 years onThirty years ago, the world was swooning over Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle in the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice adaptation but all the time, the actual Jane Austen screen sensation that year was happening elsewhere in plain sight. Amy Heckerling’s high school romcoming-of-age masterpiece, inspired by Austen’s Emma, is now on re-release for its 30th anniversary and more than ever it feels like a complete joy, a deliciously movie-literate (and literate-literate) classic, with references to Stanley Kubrick, Oscar Wilde and William Burroughs to go with the Austen parallel.Clueless is something to compare with Bringing Up Baby and The Philadelphia Story – and Alicia Silverstone’s final, tearful scene matches, and even outclasses, Julia Roberts’ speech in Notting Hill about being just a girl standing in front of a boy. Like Withnail and I, it’s a film ...

Politics

1 week ago India suffer humbling defeat but rise and fall in fighting spirit is biggest worry | Simon Burnton

With first Test against England in the balance the tourists revealed another of their plentiful flawsThe day started with drama and tension and later, for a while, they returned. But the period in between was in its own way equally intriguing, a phase that exposed in the tourists a deficiency not of quality, but of spirit. This turns out to be a team whose shoulders suffer from such severe premature drooping someone should invent some kind of blue pill to deal with it.They started with spirits high and performance levels to match, Jasprit Bumrah from the Kirkstall Lane End and Mohammed Siraj coming up the hill from the other, lines and lengths unerring. Ben Duckett hit the third ball for four, after which seven overs passed before the next boundary. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Richard E. Grant is overcome with emotion as Ruth Jones treats him to a Gavin & Stacey tour in Wales after admitting show brought his late wife comfort in the last months of her life

The actor, 68, is working with Ruth, 58, on a new period drama and revealed his co-star had taken him out in Barry to show him where she had filmed her scenes as Nessa Jenkins.

Politics

2 w. ago Hotel Café Royal reopens Oscar Wilde bar as grill restaurant

Until recently used for afternoon tea, the room is now a grill restaurant, as it was when the hotel first opened

Society

2 w. ago Nepo baby who steals the scene from Tom Hardy in MobLand revealed

The teen who plays Tom Hardy's daughter in Prime crime drama MobLand has been revealed to be the real life child of two actors. Her father is a Welsh comedian and movie star while her mum has starred in Channel 4 and ITV dramas

Events

2 w. ago Emmerdale's Lisa Riley says 'bring the drama' in 'new' reveal

Lisa gave an exclusive tour of Mandy and Paddy's newly decorated abode

Events

3 w. ago EastEnders spoilers: Kat's turmoil, Joel's new target and shock Bernie exit 'revealed'

EastEnders for next week's episodes have revealed drama and danger in the fallout to this week's big scenes, with discoveries, concern and more than one clash in Walford

Events

3 w. ago British Library to reinstate Oscar Wilde’s reader card 130 years after it was revoked

Exclusive: Pass to be presented to playwright’s grandson after original cancelled over conviction for gross indecencyThe British Library is to symbolically reinstate Oscar Wilde’s reader pass, 130 years after its trustees cancelled it following his conviction for gross indecency.A contemporary pass bearing the name of the Irish author and playwright will be officially presented to his grandson, Merlin Holland, at an event in October, it will be announced on Sunday. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Peter Kay reveals 'most personal' move months after heckler drama at show

The Bolton-born star recently made another return to the spotlight and has been performing in arenas up and down the country

Events

4 w. ago Life of Oscar Wilde reimagined in dystopian West End musical

Life of Oscar Wilde reimagined in dystopian West End musical  BBC

Politics