Dorian is a 90-minute solo theatre work directed by Robert Wilson and performed by Christian Friedel. Inspired by Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray and Darryl Pinckney's text, the production brings together literature, music, and visual theatre in an exploration of life, art, beauty, and identity.

About the Show

Dorian was created by Robert Wilson for the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus during the 2021/22 season as a solo work for actor Christian Friedel. The production draws from three interconnected stories: Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, the life and work of English painter Francis Bacon, and the story of Oscar Wilde himself. Darryl Pinckney's text weaves together memories, reflections, and emotions into an associative narrative about life and art.

The performance unfolds over three parts and an epilogue. Beginning with a mysterious young man carrying jewels and hiding inside an unfamiliar studio, the story follows Dorian's transformation as he becomes both subject and performer. Throughout the piece, themes of beauty, desire, imagination, identity, and mortality are explored through Wilson's visual language and Friedel's solo performance.

Cast & Creatives

Robert Wilson (Director / Stage / Lighting)
Robert Wilson (1941–2025) was one of the world's foremost theatre and visual artists. His works combined dance, movement, light, sculpture, music, and text, and include landmark productions such as Einstein on the Beach. He received numerous international honors throughout his career and was the founder and Artistic Director of The Watermill Center in New York.

Christian Friedel (Actor)
Born in 1979, Christian Friedel is a German actor, musician, and theatre director. He has performed at major German theatres and collaborated extensively with Robert Wilson. His film and television credits include The White Ribbon, Babylon Berlin, and The Zone of Interest. Friedel also composed the music for Dorian with his band Woods of Birnam.

Darryl Pinckney (Text)
American author Darryl Pinckney wrote the text for Dorian, drawing inspiration from Oscar Wilde's works and themes.

Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus
The Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus is the largest spoken drama theatre in North Rhine-Westphalia and one of the largest theatres in the German-speaking world. Its programme spans drama, youth theatre, and interdisciplinary projects.

Synopsis

• Prologue
  A young man breaks into a studio carrying pockets full of jewels while hiding from an unseen pursuit.
• Part I
  Dorian discovers he is being watched by Fate itself. Invited to sit as a model for a painter, he takes his place while mysteries surrounding death and identity begin to emerge.
• Part II
  Dorian becomes an ecstatic star, moving between audiences, costumes, music, and treasures as flashes of fame surround him.
• Part III
  Disguised as a priest and digging a grave, Dorian confronts his bound portrait in a final struggle.
• Epilogue
  A survivor speaks one final line.

Why It's Worth Seeing

Dorian brings together the theatrical language of Robert Wilson and the solo performance of Christian Friedel in a production created specifically for the actor. Drawing from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, the work combines literature, music, movement, and visual storytelling within a single 90-minute performance. For audiences interested in contemporary theatre, visual stage design, or adaptations of classic literary works, it offers an opportunity to experience one of Robert Wilson's later theatrical creations presented in its original German with Chinese and English surtitles.