Caroline Langrishe, Adrian Lukis, Camilla Pay and Rosie Lomas

Actors Caroline Langrishe and Adrian Lukis bring to life some of Jane Austen’s most memorable characters by performing a series of duologues and passages from the books. They are accompanied by vocalists and musicians, including harpist Camilla Pay and soprano Rosie Lomas, performing 18th-century and regency-era music that would have been heard in Austen’s own household.

Langrishe and Lukis take on characters including the comically absurd Dashwoods, the passionate Wentworth and Anne, and the notorious Mr Wickham. They perform passages from Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion. The show has already performed to sell-out audiences in Bath, Brighton and at Godmersham Park, the former home of Austen’s brother Edward Austen Knight.

Langrishe has made many film, theatre and television appearances and is best known for her roles as Charlotte Cavendish in Lovejoy, Lady Anne Carmoynes in Sharpe, and Georgina Channing in Judge John Deed. Lukis is best known for playing Mr Wickham in the BBC’s 1995 production of Pride and Prejudice. He also played Dr David Shearer in Peak Practice and has appeared in many other television and film roles including in New Tricks, Downton Abbey and Toast of London.

Pay is a harpist and classical performer and a graduate and associate of the Royal Academy of Music. She has recorded tracks for well-known artists including John Legend, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith, Stormzy and Paul McCartney. She has appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, the Graham Norton Show, Later with Jools Holland, the Jonathan Ross Show and many more, with artists including The Killers, Bette Midler and Beyoncé.

Lomas is a soprano and graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Her operatic roles include American Suburban Girl in English National Opera’s (ENO) world premiere production of Two Boys, the two children’s roles in Philip Glass’s The Perfect American at the ENO, and Flora in The Turn of the Screw at Holland Park, the Festival di Spoleto and at the Beethoven festival in Warsaw.

This event will last two hours including a 30-minute interval when drinks will be available to purchase at the festival bar.

Sponsored by Jill Dunsmore

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