Preview

Pride and Prejudice

Theatre Royal, Bath

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre brings one of the most universally loved English novels of all time to Bath, famous as the inspiration for several of author Jane Austen's works, next week.

The acclaimed production of the Pride and Prejudice stars a number of well known British actors including Matthew Kelly and Felicity Montagu as Mr and Mrs Bennet.

The famous novel, first published in 1813, tells the story of the Bennet family, their five unmarried daughters and their hapless search for love. It has become one of the most popular novels in English literature, selling over 20 million copies and having numerous screen adaptations, most famously the 1940 film starring Laurence Olivier and the 1995 BBC version starring Colin Firth.

Audiences in Bath can enjoy Matthew Kelly's portrayal of Mr Bennet, the harried husband and father with a heart of gold. One of Britain's most loved actors, he won an Olivier award for his starring performance in Of Mice and Men at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and in the West End. He has starred in several other UK tours including Spamalot and Legally Blonde.

Playing Mrs Bennet is Felicity Montagu, who has also had many well known roles - she is best known as Lynn the long-suffering PA Lynn in TV series I’m Alan Partridge, with Steve Coogan. Other notable roles include Perpetua in Bridget Jones’s Diary and Caroline Bosman in Doc Martin.

A host of young stars play the daughters and their swains, with the star role of Mr Darcy falling to Benjamin Dilloway, with Tafline Steen playing opposite him as Elizabeth Bennet.

Pride and Prejudice is Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s third production to tour the UK, and runs from Tuesday, January 17- Saturday, January 21. Tickets from 01225 448844/www.theatreroyal.org.uk