Our guest speaker this month is the Scottish born actor and writer Neil Titley. Neil has spent his theatrical life focusing on one-man plays, in particular, a 40-year tour performing his Oscar Wilde solo performance, “Work is the Curse of the Drinking Classes”. The play is set in Paris in 1898, a year after Wilde’s release from prison and explores his life and misfortunes with wit and irreverence. It draws on Wilde’s letters, essays and anecdotes in bringing his literary genius to life. The play has been a success on five continents and won the prestigious “Best Period Piece” at the United Solo Theatre Festival in New York. Neil has written an encyclopaedia of Victorian stories entitled “The Oscar Wilde World of Gossip” and several memoirs of the great author, poet and playwright. He is an Honorary Patron of the Oscar Wilde Society. Following Neil’s talk, two members of the audience will be invited to read a scene from Wilde’s famous play, “The Importance of Being Earnest’. The work, celebrated for its wit and repartee parodies contemporary dramatic norms and satirises late Victorian manners staunchly upheld by the formidable Lady Bracknell.

Tentative schedule for the day

9:30am – 10:45am – Registration, tea/coffee, Activity Leader and vendor tables

10:50am – Members to take their seats in the auditorium

11:00am – Introductions

11:10am – Guest Speaker

12:05pm – Q and A

12:20pm – President’s announcements

12:30pm – Meeting conclusion

12:45pm – Hospitality lunch (details tbc)