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Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray, Utopias in fiction, Villagers

Oscar Wilde's grandson Merlin Holland on The Picture of Dorian Gray, utopias in fiction, Conor O'Brien aka Villagers and the wild men of rock and ads.

Oscar Wilde's grandson Merlin Holland discusses his new adaptation of Wilde's novella The Picture of Dorian Gray for the West End stage.

As this year marks the 500th anniversary of the publication of Thomas More's Utopia, Jerry Brotton, Professor of Renaissance Studies, and Sarah Crossan, author of two YA dystopian novels (Breathe and Resist) discuss the impact of More's work on utopian and dystopian fiction.

Conor O'Brien, better known for Villagers - his Irish Indie folk band from Dublin - talks about performing old songs in a new way for their latest album Where Have You Been All My Life?

Shortly before his death last month, Motorhead's hard-living frontman Lemmy did an unlikely advert for milk. Ben Wardle considers the appeal for advertisers of the wild men of rock, from John Lydon to Alice Cooper.

Presenter John Wilson
Producer Jerome Weatherald.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • The Picture of Dorian Grey - Merlin Holland

    Duration: 07:53

  • Discussion - Dystopia/Utopia

    Duration: 08:08

  • Interview - The Villagers/Conor O'Brien

    Duration: 07:48

  • Column - Rock Men Become Ad Men - by Ben Wardle

    Duration: 04:07

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray

is running at Trafalgar Studios in London until 13 February.

Photo Credit: Emily Hyland

Villagers – Where Have You Been All My Life?

Villagers – Where Have You Been All My Life?

the new album by Villagers, is available now and their tour of the UK and Ireland begins on 24 January.

Photo Credit: Andrew Whitton

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter John Wilson
Interviewed Guest Merlin Holland
Interviewed Guest Jerry Brotton
Interviewed Guest Sarah Crossan
Interviewed Guest Conor O'Brien
Interviewed Guest Ben Wardle
Producer Jerome Weatherald

Broadcast

  • Thu 21 Jan 2016 19:15

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