De Profundis

Directed by Brian Mertes

A Wild Ride Fueled by Wilde's Incendiary Letter

Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s visceral "Letter from Reading Gaol," explosive theatre makers Brian Mertes and Jim Findlay invite audiences into the artistic transformation of their work as it develops into a fully-realized piece that explores the concepts of of isolation, otherness, and identity.

CONTENT ADVISORY

Strobe lighting effects will be used during this performance.

AGE RECOMMENDATION

This production includes brief moments of partial nudity and subject matter that is best suited for patrons ages 17 and older.

The truth is rarely pure and never simple.

Oscar Wilde

New seating Arrangement for the Kenan Theatre

This one-woman show will feature a new seating arrangement to “hem the actress in” on two sides.

Reviews

New Play in Progress at PRC² Interprets Wilde’s De Profundis
By Alan R. Hall
Classical Voice of North Carolina
January 13, 2017

PlayMakers Rep’s De Profundis Is a Work-in-Progress That Might Just Be “Your Cup of Tea”
by Pamela Vesper and Kurt Benrud
Triangle Arts & Entertainment
January 12, 2017

 

Brian Mertes and Jim Findlay Will Workshop De Profundis on Jan. 11-15 at PlayMakers Rep
by Robert W. McDowell
Triangle Arts & Entertainment
January 10, 2017

Artists

Brian Mertes
Director
Nicole Villamil
Actor
Jim Findlay
Creative Team

Related Posts

Oscar and Bosie at Oxford, probably taken in May 1893 when Douglas was in his last year and Wilde went up on a long visit. Photo by Gillman & Co.
Articulating Suffering
This performance of DE PROFUNDIS is being developed here at PlayMakers over the course of sixteen days as a collaboration primarily among three guest artists: director Brian Mertes, performer Nicole Villamil, and designer Jim Findlay. It is not a dramatization of Wilde’s imprisonment, nor even a play with a character in recognizable given circumstances. And yet, out of the depths of this text, a performance is emerging.
Out of the Depths: A De Profundis Diary
As the DE PROFUNDIS creative team begins its short residency here at PlayMakers, we'll be using this post as a DE PROFUNDIS diary, tracking the show's development from first rehearsal to opening night. Creators Brian Mertes & Jim Findlay will work with actress Nicole Villamil to take the piece from concept to embodied performance. We hope you'll find the process as exciting as we do.