“I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works”

The lecturer will examine the public and private life of one of the world’s most original and controversial artists.  Born into a moderately respectable Dublin family, Oscar Wilde recreated himself as an international celebrity and wrote a series of short stories and plays that charmed the world.  In 1890 he also published the last of the great myths – The Picture of Dorian Gray.  Ten years later Wilde, devoured by his fame, his demons and his decadence, would be dead.

About the Lecturer

Giles Ramsay  is an independent theatre director and producer who specializes in creating new work with artists in developing countries. He is the Founding Director of the charity Developing Artists (www.developingartists.org), a Fellow of St. Chad’s College, Durham University and Course Leader in Theatre at The Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  Giles has run theatre projects in Botswana, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Kosovo, Palestine, Mexico, Thailand and Zimbabwe and given numerous talks for institutions ranging from The Foundation for Mexican Literature in Mexico City to The Royal College of Physicians in London.  He regularly lectures on the history and practice of theatre on the Queen Mary 2 as it sails from New York to the UK.  Giles combines academic analysis with hands-on experience to bring a unique insight to the world of the theatre.