STEPHEN Fry and Joanna Lumley are to star in a groundbreaking show to raise money for the Oxford Playhouse on the anniversary of the theatre’s closure for the first lockdown. The national treasures join a glittering cast for a new social media-themed version of Oscar Wilde’s classic The Picture of Dorian Gray. Mr Fry is famous for everything from comedy shows A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Blackadder and QI, to roles in The Hobbit films, Gosford Park and current TV hit It’s a Sin. He famously starred as the writer of The Picture of Dorian Gray in the acclaimed film Wilde.
Lockdown and Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions have meant that all non-essential businesses had to shut their doors. Grants from the Arts Council and the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund have helped museums, theatres, and galleries stay afloat despite the closures. Several Oxford venues, however, are still concerned about their future. Louise Chantal, director of Oxford Playhouse, raised concerns about how long it might take for the theatre to get back to normal. Ms Chantal said: “Of course, the safety of our audience is our first priority, but this third lockdown puts all our post-Covid planning on hold, with another batch of events being cancelled or postponed.”