Succession star Sarah Snook takes hit Australian show to London’s West End

After conquering audiences in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, The Picture of Dorian Gray is headed to London’s West End with Succession star Sarah Snook taking on the one-woman play.

Snook takes over from actor Eryn Jean Norvill who originated the role in the Sydney Theatre Company adaptation of the Oscar Wilde play that premiered to five-star reviews, sold-out audiences, two season extensions, and an encore show.

Sarah Snook is taking on Kip William’s Oscar Wilde adaption of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Credit: Hugh Stewart

The London show is Snook’s first significant stage project after Succession, the juggernaut series that made her a household name.

It’s also the first show to be exported under a “first look” deal struck between the Sydney Theatre Company and the Michael Cassel Group in 2021. The agreement gives the Australian producer first dibs on transferring or remounting interstate or international shows that STC creates.

A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, Snook last performed for the STC in 2018 in St Joan as the warrior-saint, and in 2016 appeared opposite Ralph Fiennes in the London seasons of The Master Builder.

Eryn Jean Norvill in her career-defining role in 2020.Credit: Daniel Boud

Snook said she was elated to return to the London stage after seven years in “such an astonishing piece of theatre”.

“From Oscar Wilde’s remarkable original text to Kip Williams’ stunning adaptation, this story of morality, innocence, narcissism and consequence is going to be thrilling to recreate for a new audience. I can’t wait,” she said.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age critic John Shand gave St Joan a 4½ star review and described Snook’s performance as “riveting”.

The Picture of Dorian Gray will open in January at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket and run for nearly 12 weeks.

Norvill turned The Picture of Dorian Gray into a career-defining performance.

Sarah Snook played Hilde Wangel in The Master Builder at the Old Vic Theatre.Credit: Manuel Harlan

Cassel, producer of the West End season, said: “I think what we have seen in Australia is that audiences have responded so positively to Kip’s innovative blend of cinema and theatre and we definitely hope audiences in London feel exactly the same way.

“Kip’s adaptation and direction really leans into the contemporary relevance of Oscar Wilde’s story and we couldn’t be more excited to share that with more people.”

Norvill, he said, had been “enjoying incredible success and earning rave reviews” for her part in the Alexander Zeldin play The Confessions, now on a European tour.

“It is really common for shows to change casts when they transfer to Broadway or the West End, and we were absolutely delighted that Sarah Snook was available and interested in being in the show,” Cassel said.

“EJ is a beloved part of The Picture of Dorian Gray family. As well as being dramaturg and creative associate, her original performance is the mould from which all future productions will be cast. She will always be part of the show’s DNA.”

Arts Minister Tony Burke said Australian taxpayers had backed the remount. “From the first standing ovation at the first performance it was clear that this was a production that belonged on stages all over the world,” he said.

“This will mean that one of the world’s great works of literature, combined with the best of Australian creativity, is about to stage West End by storm.”

Rehearsals with Snook are expected to begin in Australia in November before shifting to London in January.

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