Preview: Pride and Prejudice at Newcastle Theatre Royal

CAST ANNOUNCEMENT

MATTHEW KELLY WILL PLAY MR. BENNET

Pride and Prejudice

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 14^th until Saturday 18^th February 2017

As the Bennet sisters haplessly search for love in Jane Austen’s ultimate romantic comedy, it is Mr. Darcy who unwittingly finds his match.  Celebrating the legacy of Jane Austen in the bicentennial year of her death, Regent’s Park Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of Pride and Prejudice arrives at the Theatre Royal Spring 2017.

Adapted for the stage by Simon Reade, Regent’s Park Theatre’s production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice comes to the region as part of a major UK tour following sell-out performances in London and tells the story of the Bennet family and their five unmarried daughters.

Matthew Kelly - has appeared several times in the West End, as the original Stanley in Funny Peculiar, Waiting For Godot with Ian McKellan and Roger Rees, Tim Firth’s play Sign of the Times, the musical Lend Me A Tenor!  Matthews’ best known television work is probably presenting You Bet! and Stars in Their Eyes. 

Matthew joins Felicity Montagu – best known for playing long-suffering PA Lynn in the TV series I’m Alan Partridge and the 2013 film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa ­– is to play Mrs. Bennet who, alongside her husband, sees the perfect opportunity to improve her family’s social standing when the wealthy Mr. Bingley and his eligible friend Mr. Darcy move to the neighbourhood.  But while Bingley takes an immediate liking to their eldest daughter Jane, the dismissive Darcy instantly clashes with the Bennet’s headstrong second daughter, Elizabeth.

One of the most universally loved and quintessentially English novels of all time, Pride and Prejudice marks the return of Regent’s Park Theatre to Newcastle Theatre Royal following their smash hit productions of To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies.

First published in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in English literature, selling over 20 million copies and spawning numerous adaptations, most notably the 1940 film starring Laurence Olivier and the 1995 BBC adaptation starring Colin Firth. 

Further casting is to be announced.

Tickets:

Pride and Prejudice is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 14^th until Saturday 18^th February 2017, playing evenings at 7.30pm, matinees on Wed and Thu 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £14.50 and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21.  Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk