The Oscar Wilde BBC Radio Drama Collection

Five Full-Cast Productions

De: Oscar Wilde

Narrado por: Miriam Margolyes, Judi Dench, Diana Rigg, Michael Sheen, full cast, Martin Jarvis, Martin Clunes, Ian McKellen, Stephen Fry, Simon Russell Beale

The collected BBC radio productions of the major works of Oscar Wilde, plus bonus play by Neil Bartlett.

Loved for his flamboyant personality, sparkling wit and brilliant epigrams, Oscar Wilde was a comic genius and a literary icon.

This collection reflects the many facets of his dazzling talent. Here are dramatisations of his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, a Gothic tale of a gilded aristocrat who makes a dangerous pact, as well as four scintillating social comedies – Lady Windermere’s Fan, A Woman of No Importance, The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband. Among the distinguished casts are Ian MacDiarmid, Joely Richardson, Edward Fox, Diana Rigg, Martin Clunes, Michael Hordern and Judi Dench.

Moving examples of his correspondence are revealed in The Letters of Oscar Wilde and De Profundis, read by Simon Callow and Simon Russell Beale respectively, and his most famous poem, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, is performed live by stars including Ian McKellen, Neil Tennant and Stephen Fry.

In addition, a bonus drama, In Extremis by Neil Bartlett, starring Corin Redgrave and Sheila Hancock, reimagines Oscar Wilde's hastily arranged sitting with a society palm reader, a week before the trial that would cost him so dearly.

©2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Brilliant and delightful

The plays of Oscar Wilde are filled with sharp irony. Clever word games that turn ordinary expressions around, providing a mirror to the "Edwardians" (at that time and their contemporary equivalents). I loved them!

De profundis is technically a letter but actually is a mini biography. It is a beautifully composed reflection, introspect analysis of Oscar's situation and his relationship with Bosie.

The letters are interesting and I find it easier to listening to them instead of reading them.

If you like good hear plays or love Oscar Wild's stories, a must have.

A great book and a great cast

Wish it didn’t end.
Great book great stories. Easy to see why movies were made from them and why they are classics.
There is a new way to experience these stories thanks to BBC Radio (seriously does anyone make a listen come alive like the British?)
Listening allows a person to imagine the characters and scenes. I believe we have great imaginations and can spin a scene to fit our personal perspectives and not be bound to a movie directors vision.

better than reading it yourself.

BBC gets the snoot Mr Wilde requires. the recording does not have a laugh track.

Better every time!

I knew I loved Wild, but I always seem to forget how much till I re-experience it! The voice actors were perfect!

Oscar Wilde is a great man,

these are great performances and i loved listening to every word. highly recommended for one listener or a group

Better performance by LATW.

In comparison, the performances of the same plays by LATW is much better with a better cast who has much better mastery of Wilde’s wit and humor.

Oscar Wilde BBC radio dramatization

I really was expecting this to be better than it was. It was enjoyable. A little disappointing. I guess I expected too much from the cast.
If you love Oscar Wilde You should enjoy this.

I have no words...

By far one of the best dramatizations,well when you have actors like Michael Sheen and Judy Dench,what can you expect?Oscar Wilde's works are timeless,at times unnerving with its accurate sense of practicality but at the same time they have the beauty and dreaminess of a poem.
I can't begin to describe Oscar Wilde's works-it's not in my power.
But the exquisite and inexpressible feelings I get-the thoughts-his thoughts which I know in my heart are true -though the power,the intuition to decide that are encouraged by his works-at this point I don't even know what I am saying.
And,finally the last piece when the lady asks us that wasn't it a triumph-that struck hard!!!
I am overwhelmed and thankyou Audible and BBC for such a beautiful dramatization with such beautiful soundtracks.
Looking forward to listening more of these!

Great production.

All the plays were top notch, though I've listened to better audio productions of "The Importance of Being Earnest." If you can find the play with Stephen Frye as Lady Bracknell you're in for an excellent laugh.

Performances were amazing!

Perfectly acted. Wonderfully put together. The only negatives I can give are I wish the chapers were labeled to the plays performed and the last work not by Oscar Wilde was seriously lacking comparatively and felt like a slightly weak note to end the collection on.