An celebration of Jane Austen's work with performances at Oxford Playhouse and Old Fire Station

Hold on to your bonnets – Jane Austen fever is coming to Oxford with Sense and Sensibility opening at Oxford’s Playhouse and Austen’s Women showcasing at the OFS.

Rebecca Vaughan’s one woman show, the popularity of which shows no sign of abating, introduces Austen’s lesser known female stars alongside the more famous characters.

“I realised that while we tend to focus on her ‘chick lit’ romance, Mr Darcy style novels, there was so much more to Jane Austen and her work, her irony and satire, the voice she had, that I wanted to write a show that included all of it. But I was also interested in the woman because she is still so relatable in so many ways. So I decided to give all these women voices, on their own terms, to let them speak for themselves.

And as a Jane Austen fan I was happy with the resulting show and everyone who comes to see it, whether they know Austen or not, seems to be as well.

“Demand for it is still high. There is so much love for her work.

“So, it’s been fun taking her back to where she was and listening to her narrative voice all the way through. I wanted to show her dark and funny sides.

“Because remember that Jane had to write in secret for a long time and her first two novels were published anonymously.

So what do people love about Austen the most? “That all men and women are flawed, and all her characters certainly are. Even the title Pride and Prejudice present their flaws from the outset, rendering them human. So while people might criticise Austen for always writing about the same things it’s the journey they go on that counts and how everything has a ring of truth to it, as well as her wit and humour, so it’s a real pleasure to bring some of these characters to the public.”

Sense and Sensibility has a similarly zestful approach, being brought to life by the Oxford Theatre Guild from Tuesday.

Cate Nunn, Director says: “There’s a magic in Sense and Sensibility which never seems to fade, no matter how much time passes since it was written, or how many times you re-read it. The story of sensible, reserved Elinor, and passionate, impulsive Marianne is an enchanting tale of romance triumphing against the odds. But Sense and Sensibility is more than a love story – it’s also the story of the unbreakable bond between these two very different sisters in a society that values wealth and status above all else.

“It’s one of my favourite novels, and I’d wanted to direct a stage version for years – but it wasn’t until I read Jessica Swale’s adaptation that I found one which captured the spirit of the novel, balancing witty dialogue with heartfelt emotion. As soon as I read it, I knew it was the one!”

A big deal though to take on one of our favourite books, and one that has already been translated onto the big screen?

“It’s been quite a responsibility taking on such well-loved characters,” Cate agrees, “but we have been working hard to make sure the characters everyone sees on stage are true to the ones they know from the novel.

“Bringing them to life has been a riot for me and the cast,” she continues, “and with such a witty script, there’s been a lot of laughter in the rehearsal room. It’s been an absolute joy to take the Dashwoods and their friends and relations through the ballroom dramas, sword fights, financial ruin, seduction, joys and heartache which litter the path to true love and happy endings.”

Austen’s Women
March 18, 7.30pm. £13, £11 from www.ticketsoxford.com
Sense and Sensibility
Oxford Playhouse, March 8-12. www.oxfordplayhouse.com
01865 305305