A WILDE Weekend returns to the shores of 'Lough Ernest' this week to celebrate the life and work of Oscar Wilde at locations across Enniskillen from August 2 to 5.
Created by curators Seán Doran and Liam Browne, the festival will include talks, music, film, song, readings and more.
Its Wildetalk strand includes historian and biographer Matthew Sturgis discussing his biography of Oscar Wilde with Carlo Gebler (August 2), plus author and biographer Franny Moyle and documentary film maker Cate Haste discussing their respective biographies of Constance Wilde (Oscar's wife) and Alma Mahler (Gustav Mahler's wife) (August 3).
There will also be Wildemusic from Kindertotenlieder by Gustav Mahler sung by Ruby Philogene MBE (mezzo soprano) and Maya Irgalina (piano) (August 3).
Conceived and directed by David Grant, At Home with Oscar Wilde (August 2 to 5, various times) will showcase excerpts of Wilde's plays performed at Enniskillen Royal Grammar, formerly Wilde's alma mater Portora Royal, while Siobhan Stagg (soprano) and Julius Drake (piano) will deliver songs from Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler during the festival's finale, Wildesong (August 4).
"Sean Doran’s 'BioFestivals' invite us to find connections between the writer’s work, the lives they led, and the places they knew," comments David Grant, senior lecturer in Drama at Queen’s University Belfast
"At Home with Oscar Wilde, seeks to do exactly that, with actors representing Oscar, his wife Constance, his mother Speranza and his lover Bosie, doubling as characters in some of his best-known works. Presenting them in different parts of the very building in which he went to school adds to the impact – allowing the audience to follow literally in the footsteps of Oscar Wilde."
:: The full A Wilde Weekend programme and tickets available via Artsoverborders.com
