Following the success of the company’s performance of The Importance of Being Earnest at the National Trust for Jersey’s refurbished property at 16 New Street last year, the trust invited the company to return to perform their walkabout show, Austen Undone, in and around the Georgian House.
The Natural Theatre Company is known for creating interactive walkabout street theatre, and has already performed Austen Undone at the Jane Austen festival in Bath. The piece is described as a ‘who’s who’ and ‘what’s what’ of Austen’s life and works in a mix of Austen favourites which should appeal to all. As director Andy Burnham explained: ‘It doesn’t matter whether you are an Austen fanatic or you have never picked up one of her novels, what we love about these tours is that they are for anyone and everyone.’
The Georgian House is the perfect setting for Jane Austen’s works, as her novels are set in Regency homes such as 16 New Street, and as well as entertaining the audience, the production offers an insight into Georgian dress and social history at the turn of the 19th century. Austen Undone begins inside the Georgian House and as the plot unfolds the audience follows the actors into the streets of St Helier for an interactive interlude of wit, romantic schemes, mistaken intentions, duels, romance and scandal.
Austen Undone continues at 16 New Street until Saturday, with performances at 1 pm, 2 pm, 6 pm, 7 pm and 8 pm. For tickets or more details visit nationaltrust.je/events or call 483193.
