Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Science
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Elections 2019
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / Entertainment News / Turn Oscar Wilde's Reading Prison to art venture, celebs demand
  • Entertainment

    Turn Oscar Wilde's Reading Prison to art venture, celebs demand

    Shubham Dasgupta
    Written by
    Shubham Dasgupta
    Mail
    Last updated on Jan 10, 2021, 01:11 pm
    Turn Oscar Wilde's Reading Prison to art venture, celebs demand
  • After LOTR stars campaigned to preserve author JRR Tolkien's Northmoor house, several British stars have now joined hands to save another old structure having a rich heritage.

    The Reading Prison, where Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, one of the greatest litterateurs ever, was incarcerated between 1895 and 1897 for being gay, is their focus now.

    It is located about 65km west of London.

  • In this article
    In prison, Wilde wrote 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol' Several celebrities joined hands for campaign Stephen Fry had played the playwright in a 1997 film Both Branagh and Dormer have connections to Reading town
  • Details

    In prison, Wilde wrote 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol'

    In prison, Wilde wrote 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol'
  • The noted playwright was convicted in that jail on grounds of "gross indecency" after his affair with Lord Alfred Douglas got exposed.

    It was during his imprisonment that Wilde wrote The Ballad of Reading Gaol, opening about his struggles as a prisoner who has been victimized by the Victorian penal system.

    To note, the building was known as Reading Gaol earlier.

  • Revival call

    Several celebrities joined hands for campaign

    Several celebrities joined hands for campaign
  • The prison was shut down in 2013.

    Three years later, the Year of Culture events program replenished the scope for this empty building to become a haven for art exhibitions.

    The Grade-II listed building was also about to be bought by developer Artisan Real Estate, but the bidder withdrew.

    Given its potential for an art museum, British stars are now seriously wanting the conversion.

  • Did you know?

    Stephen Fry had played the playwright in a 1997 film

    Stephen Fry had played the playwright in a 1997 film
  • Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh, Stephen Fry, and Natalie Dormer have united to campaign to turn the building into a center for culture.

    "If living art can rise up from the place where Oscar and so many others suffered, then how perfect that will be, for Reading, for Britain," Fry had commented earlier.

    Interestingly, he had played the playwright in the 1997 movie, Wilde.

  • Fact

    Both Branagh and Dormer have connections to Reading town

    Both Branagh and Dormer have connections to Reading town
  • Notably, both Branagh and Dormer have Reading connections.

    While he has spent a part of his childhood there, Dormer is a Reading-born.

    The GoT star said this is a massive opportunity for Reading Borough Council to create a "cultural gem for Reading."

    The Council echoes this sentiment and has claimed its interest to revive the bid to transform the site into an arts complex.

  • Hollywood News
  • Game of Thrones
  • Ballad
  • Kenneth Branagh
  •  
Latest News
  • Chelsea scrape past 10-man Fulham in Premier League: Records broken
    Chelsea scrape past 10-man Fulham in Premier League: Records broken
    Sports
  • British spy Noor Inayat Khan's life getting a thriller series
    British spy Noor Inayat Khan's life getting a thriller series
    Entertainment
  • Guru Dutt's daughter sends legal notice to director Bhavna Talwar
    Guru Dutt's daughter sends legal notice to director Bhavna Talwar
    Entertainment
  • 'Cherry' trailer: Tom Holland, Russo brothers break Marvel stereotypes successfully
    'Cherry' trailer: Tom Holland, Russo brothers break Marvel stereotypes successfully
    Entertainment
Related Timelines
  • At 23.6 million, Oscars viewership drops to an all-time low
    At 23.6 million, Oscars viewership drops to an all-time low
    Entertainment
  • Oscars 2020: 'Parasite' wins Best Picture, and a lot more!
    Oscars 2020: 'Parasite' wins Best Picture, and a lot more!
    Entertainment
  • Oscars 2020: Joaquin Phoenix, Renée Zellweger named Best Actors
    Oscars 2020: Joaquin Phoenix, Renée Zellweger named Best Actors
    Entertainment
Next News Article
Share
Cancel

Want to share it with your friends too?

Facebook Whatsapp Twitter Linkedin
Copied

Love Entertainment news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

Entertainment Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Science News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Cricket News Donald Trump Arnab Goswami Hollywood News WhatsApp Bollywood News
Vaccine Congress Tesla Manchester United Farmers Protest International Monetary Fund SCG Test Bajaj Dominar 400 Latest Gadget Launch Latest Automobile News
Coronavirus Brisbane Test MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ COVAXIN Latest Tech News
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us News News Archive Topics Archive Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2021