The Oscar Wilde BBC Radio Drama Collection

Five Full-Cast Productions

By: Oscar Wilde

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

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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.

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.

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.

Oscar

Wonderful read. Wished he died a happy man. He deserves much more than what he go. The world missed out on an amazing writer.

Excellent, excellent, excellent

These productions were just fantastic. While the ending was sad, the stories were very good. I'm very glad I got this book.

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.