The Picture of Dorian Gray: A New Musical opens its UK tour at Darlington Hippodrome on 19th October, then heads out to a theatre near you right through to 30th March 2027. It’s a brand new, original musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s Gothic novel, built with GCSE and A Level English Literature and Theatre Studies classes in mind.
What to Expect on Your School Trip
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a brand new musical based on Oscar Wilde’s timeless Gothic tale. Dorian Gray has it all: youth, beauty and irresistible charm. But when a single wish binds his fate to a mysterious portrait, he discovers that perfection always comes at a cost.
Starring Kevin Kennedy (Rock of Ages, We Will Rock You, Coronation Street) as Mr Isaacs. Outwardly untouched by time, Dorian remains the picture of perfection, while hidden away, his true soul etches itself into the canvas.
With the help of the influential Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian embraces the promise of immortality and descends into an increasingly debauched and immoral life, the painting absorbing every sin along the way. Lavish, haunting and unforgettable, this is a story where nothing is quite as it seems.
A Fresh Way Into Wilde’s Gothic Classic
Dorian Gray is a fixture of the GCSE and A Level English Literature and Theatre Studies specifications, and this new stage version gives students a genuinely different way into it. Rather than reading the novel cold, they get to see its Gothic conventions, Victorian aestheticism and moral decay played out live, with a full original score doing a lot of the storytelling.
It’s touring extensively, with dates running from Darlington all the way to Aberdeen between October 2026 and March 2027, so there’s a good chance a venue is within reach wherever your school is based. For A Level Theatre Studies groups working on live theatre evaluation, that scale and staging make it a strong choice to write about.
Start planning your Picture of Dorian Gray: A New Musical school trip.
Why Book It for Your English and Drama Students
The Picture of Dorian Gray: A New Musical links to English, Drama, Media Studies, History and Music, covering Gothic literature, Victorian society, musical theatre and theatre design along the way. It’s aimed at KS4 and KS5 students, suitable for ages 14 and up, and suits students with SEND (do get in touch to talk through what your group needs).
Please note this production contains haze, loud noises including gunshots, simulated smoking, flashing lights and strobe effects, and adult themes including murder, suicide and sex, so it’s worth checking these against your group before booking.
School trip bookings are open now across the full run.
