Wilde at heart: Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde's novel, published in 1891, follows a handsome young man who fears losing his good looks in later life. He is granted eternal beauty and embarks on a hedonistic downward spiral. Richard Winsor plays the role in Bourne's production Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Bourne has updated the story and set it in the image-obsessed fashion world Photograph: Callum Bennetts/Rex Features

Bourne has described Dorian as a charming killer - 'a bit like the characters in American Psycho or Dexter'. He was also inspired by a chance encounter with Orlando Bloom at a party: 'He was just so ordinary-looking, and yet to many people he's the most beautiful man in the world' Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Shades of Antonioni's Blow-Up ... Bourne considered setting Dorian Gray in the 1960s - an era he's favoured in previous productions - but he settled on the modern-day fashion world Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Role reversal, opposites and the idea of a double life are themes in Wilde's fable and the stage version Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Despite some lukewarm reviews - the Guardian's Sanjoy Roy gave it two stars - Dorian Gray became the most attended dance production in the history of the Edinburgh festival Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray can be seen at Sadler's Wells in London, September 2-14 2008 Photograph: Murdo Macleod