Vera; or, The Nihilists

While Wilde might be better known for acidic and satirical comedies, such as ‘The Importance of being Earnest,’ and ‘Lay Windemere’s Fan,’ his first outing as a playwright was in the realms of tragedy. Set in Russia, ‘Vera; or, The Nihilists’ follows the eponymous Vera on her journey from barmaid, to joining terrorist group, ‘The Nihilists,’ and becoming their top assassin. Inspired by real-life events, Wilde’s play explores the idea that full commitment to an ideology can dehumanise almost...