Leading the irreverent, pop-soundtracked adaptation is Georgia Firth as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), Isobel McArthur's hugely acclaimed and highly irreverent adaptation of Jane Austen's literary classic.
For Firth, who joins a company that includes Eva Hope, Roxanne Morgan, Julia Murray and Phoebe Marshall, the role is a homecoming. She worked on the show’s previous tour (which came to Lighthouse in 2024) as Assistant Stage Manager and understudy across all five roles — “a training that you could not pay for,” she says.
“As much as I loved every other job, when it got to being able to do rehearsals or go on stage a few times, that was where all the lights would be flashing. It was amazing.”
Stepping into Elizabeth full-time this time round, she admits she still can’t quite believe it: “I keep expecting to have to go and clear the set. I’m just so grateful for the crew, because I’ve seen what it’s like on the other side of the wings.”
Two weeks into rehearsals, Firth describes a company defined by warmth and graft in equal measure.
“It’s such a positive bunch of people, and with a show like this you’ve got to be so in it and enthusiastic, because it is hard work,” she says — pointing to the whirlwind of quick changes happening just offstage. Playing Elizabeth, she notes wryly, gives her “by far the easiest ride” costume-wise, compared with castmates dodging clothes being thrown or ripped off in the wings.
What draws her most to the character is Elizabeth’s refusal to shrink herself.
“Women are so often taught from an early age to be sorry for existing in any space — to feel apologetic for talking, or being too close to you on the tube,” Firth reflects. “This production, and Elizabeth, is so resistant to that idea. Why is it that a Mr Darcy can walk in and send a work email that just says ‘do this by tomorrow, goodbye,’ while women are disposed to say sorry for asking for help? We need more shows that tell women they don’t have to apologise for existing.”
Touring brings its own excitement as growing up, she says, access to theatre beyond London was “so essential” to her own confidence, and she’s thrilled to pass that on.
Above all, she hopes audiences simply have fun.
“You don’t realise quite how connected you’re getting to the characters until you’re crying over them, wondering when you started caring so much about these lunatics running around the stage.”
:: Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) returns to play Lighthouse from Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 January. Tickets available now at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/pride-and-prejudice-sort-of/ and on 01202 280000.
Interview by Carl Woodward