Drawing on over 200 years of romantic pop history, the innovative theatre company Blood of the Young take on Jane Austen’s unrivalled literary classic. The highly acclaimed Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) visits Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Six young women have a story to tell. You might have seen them, emptying the chamber pots and sweeping ash from the grate; the overlooked and the undervalued making sure those above stairs find their happy ending. Of course, they’ve always been running the show after all ‘you can’t have a whirlwind romance without clean bedding’ - but tonight, the servants are also playing every part.
Men, money and microphones will be fought over in this loving all-female adaptation. Let the ruthless match-making begin.
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is adapted by writer-performer Isobel McArthur (Cyrano de Bergerac, National Theatre of Scotland). Talking about the show, she says: “It’s simply for anyone who enjoys a great night out full of colour, music and laughter. I’d encourage anybody put off by the associated stuffiness or frilly corsetry of the Austen legacy to give this a go - and I’d tell those who love Austen not to worry because we do, too. This is a deeply affectionate re-telling of her brilliant, enduring story.”
The Lyceum’s Artistic Director, David Greig, said: “Blood of the Young are a brilliant young voice of Scottish Theatre, and their below-stairs take on Pride and Prejudice is a pitch-perfect blend of reverent homage and mischievous send up. I could not be more delighted to be working with them to bring this show to out to our partner theatres across the UK.”
This irreverent production is brought to life by director Paul Brotherston, designer Ana Inés Jabares-Pita (The Lovely Bones, Birmingham Repertory Theatre) and movement director EJ Boyle (The Crown, Netflix).
Playing multiple characters in this rip-roaring all-female adaptation, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) brings together an exceptional cast of six, including: Tori Burgess, Christina Gordon, Hannah Jarrett-Scott, Isobel McArthur and Meghan Tyler. They are joined by newcomer Felixe Forde making her professional debut.
Having first opened at Tron Theatre to an overwhelming audience response in Summer 2018, the production tours to UK venues over Autumn 2019 and Spring 2020.
Written by Isobel McArthur after Jane Austen and directed by Paul Brotherston, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) - a co-production with Bristol Old Vic, Leeds Playhouse, Northern Stage, Nuffield Southampton Theatres and Oxford Playhouse - is at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 15 October – 2 November.
