Alastair Whatley Brings Oscar Wilde’s Life to Park Theatre in Solo Show
The Importance of Being Oscar runs for a month in Finsbury Park, revisiting the playwright’s Dublin roots and London legacy
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A solo performance tracing the life of Oscar Wilde has opened at Park Theatre in Finsbury Park. The Importance of Being Oscar, written by Micheál Mac Liammóir in 1960, is performed by Alastair Whatley and runs until 28 September.
Mac Liammóir, born Alfred Willmore in Willesden in 1899, later reinvented himself as Irish and claimed Cork as his family’s origin. He first performed the piece at Dublin’s Gate Theatre, where it became a long-running success with an estimated 1,300 performances.
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Wilde’s life in two hours
The show follows Wilde’s life chronologically, beginning with his birth in Dublin in 1854. He studied classics at Trinity College before moving to Oxford, where he cultivated his reputation for wit and flamboyance. At 30, he married Constance Lloyd and published fairy tales, establishing himself as a storyteller.
Whatley’s performance includes extracts from Wilde’s works, including The Importance of Being Earnest, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, and De Profundis. The show also covers his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, his trial for gross indecency in 1895, and his two-year imprisonment in Reading Gaol, followed by exile in France.
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Reviews in the Ham & High and This Is Local London describe Whatley’s delivery as flawless, with no missed lines or hesitation. The production uses minimalist staging and lighting to support the performance.
An extraordinary feat of memory and concentration, The Importance of Being Oscar is a chronological account of the remarkable life and career of one of the greatest and most quoted writers in the English language.
Review in Ham & High
What happens next
The Importance of Being Oscar continues at Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, until 28 September. Tickets are available through the theatre’s website. The production previously ran at Jermyn Street Theatre before transferring to Finsbury Park.
Questions this report answers
+Who is performing in The Importance of Being Oscar?
Alastair Whatley performs the one-man show at Park Theatre. He delivers a two-hour account of Oscar Wilde’s life, written by Micheál Mac Liammóir in 1960. Reviews praise his memory and nuanced performance.
+Where is the show running and until when?
The Importance of Being Oscar is at Park Theatre in Finsbury Park until 28 September. The theatre is located on Clifton Terrace. Tickets are available online through the venue’s website.
+What does the show cover about Oscar Wilde’s life?
The performance traces Wilde’s life from his Dublin birth in 1854 to his Oxford education, literary fame, trial for gross indecency, and exile in France. It includes extracts from his works, such as De Profundis and The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
+Who originally wrote The Importance of Being Oscar?
Micheál Mac Liammóir wrote the piece in 1960 and first performed it at Dublin’s Gate Theatre. Born in Willesden as Alfred Willmore, he later claimed Irish ancestry and became a prominent figure in Irish theatre.
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