A one-man play about Jane Austen’s roughish character George Wickham is heading to The Theatre Chipping Norton in October.

Being Mr Wickham is performed by the Original Theatre Company and was written by Adrian Lukis and Catherine Curzon, it is directed by Gus Unsworth.

Mr Lukis, who starred in the BBC television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, returns to the role of Mr Wickham following an online production of Being Mr Wickham earlier this year.

Alastair Whatley, artistic director of Original Theatre Company, said: “Guy Unsworth’s production of Adrian’s and Catherine’s fantastic play was one of the highlights from our recent online season.

“Originally live streamed from the beautiful Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds but without an audience physically with us in the room, it’s a real thrill to be able to get the show on the road and visit theatres up and down the country.”

The show joins Pride and Prejudice’s George Wickham on the eve of his sixtieth birthday and aims to lift the sheets on exactly what happened thirty years on from where the novel left him.

Being Mr Wickham allows the audience to discover the character’s own version of Austen’s famous literary events.

Oxford Mail: Adrian Lukis will star in Being Mr Wickham (photo James Findlay)Adrian Lukis will star in Being Mr Wickham (photo James Findlay)

A major character in Austen’s novel, Mr Wickham is a charming and well-spoken man but is he is also immoral, a compulsive liar and has a gambling problem. Mr Wickham has no problem with using people to his own advantage.

Mr Lukis said: "I’m thrilled to be reunited with my old friend, George Wickham. Having spent years defending his dubious reputation, I look forward to finally setting the record straight, with the assistance of the immensely talented Original Theatre Company."

Being Mr Wickham is produced by Alastair Whatley and Tom Hackney for Original Theatre Company, with the creative team also including designer Libby Watson, sound designer Max Pappenheim and lighting designer Johanna Town.

Operating and touring since 2004 the Original Theatre Company has toured extensively all over the UK and since 2020 have produced a number of online productions and also launched Original Theatre Online.

Being Mr Wickham will take to the stage on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 October and the showtimes are 7.30pm on Monday and at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Tuesday.

The show runs for approximately 60 minutes and is suitable for children aged eight and older.

For more information, and to book tickets you can visit The Theatre Chipping Norton website or call the Box Office on 01608 642350.