Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) Presented by David Pugh, by Isobel McArthur after Jane Austen offers a comedic insight into the stories of the families in Jane Austen’s famous novel Pride and Prejudice where the overbearing yet well-meaning Mrs Bennett is desperately trying to find suitors for her daughters to stop them from becoming destitute and homeless when their father dies. During the 1700s, unmarried women were not allowed to inherit their families’ money.

Although these laws feel very outdated in our modern world, the laws that we are accustomed to have not been in place for that long. The full independence rights law for women was passed in 1975, which is only 51 years ago!

Unlike a traditional play based on the Jane Austen novel. This production is told through from the perspective of the staff that worked hard in the background of these large homes. Who saw everything that went on between everyone and rarely had a voice within the pages of the novels. Although, I dare say their version of events would have been more honest and entertaining.

The cast of five can consist of Georgia Firth (as Elizabeth Bennet), Eva Hope, Roxanne Morgan, Julia Murray, Phoebe Marshall, Emily Cruz, Grace Farrell, and Anastasia Sims-Chin Between them, they play all the characters from the original novel and stick close to the original storyline. There’s some incredibly fast and slick costumes and identity changes throughout the performance.

The production uses a range of pop music throughout the performance from ‘Young Hearts Run Free’, ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’, ‘You’re So Vain’ and “Something Changed”. Predominantly sang by one or more of the Bennett sisters. There’s also plenty of comedy throughout the play, especially  with some of the characters’ personalities exaggerated for comedic effects 

A special mention has to go to the set designer Ana Inés Jabares-Pita. Whose impressive grand staircase design used book piles painted onto front of each stair to pay respect to the original author Jane Austen. Along with several piles of books bound together to create seats that can be moved around the stage as required by the cast.

Writer and director Isobel McArthur has bought to the stage the most entertaining and funny version of Pride and Prejudice that I have ever watched. Highly recommend catching this play while it’s on tour.

For more information about Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) and future productions at Salisbury Playhouse, please use the link below.

Five Stars.

Photo credit by Mihaela Bodlovic.

Playing from Tuesday, October 27 – Saturday, October 31, 2026.

https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/pride-and-prejudice-sort-of