16 – 19 July, 23 – 26 July
Northanger Abbey is widely considered to be one of the least read and least popular of Jane Austen’s six major novels. It was also one of her earliest, written around 1798 and published posthumously in 1818, it arguably lacks the complexity and broader appeal of Austen’s later, more widely known novels. Following the success of last year’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, it might seem a curious choice for the Worcester Repertory Company to once again choose Austen for this year’s summer show, but as returning writer and director Paul Milton explains, he was keen to find a novel that tied in with 2026 as the National Year of Reading. The novel’s protagonist, Catherine Morland, is an avid reader; indeed, the novel itself champions the value and importance of reading even as it affectionately satirises the exaggerated Gothic romances which were popular in the 1790s.
Milton has cleverly abridged this tale without sacrificing Austen’s humour or astute social commentary. Charlie Fraser-Swarbrick excels as the impressionable, 17 year-old Morland, invited by her parents’ wealthy friends to be inducted into the seemingly polite and respectable whirl of Regency Bath society where she meets Henry Tilney (Nate Harper) and his family. Heavily influenced by the Gothic literary genre – principally Ann Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho – Morland’s fertile imagination frequently gets the better of her, leading to various social faux pas with her potential suitor. She is eventually forced to distinguish reality from a fiction fuelled by mystery and conspiracy as she transitions from naivety to maturity. The novel is also a thinly veiled criticism of the superficiality of high society of the time, Austen taking aim at those like John Thorpe (Harper), his sister Isabella (Alexandra Whitworth) and Henry’s father, General Tilney (George Ormerod) who view social relationships and marriage as transactional opportunities to acquire wealth and status.
Milton’s script is a seamless fusion of both his and Austen’s words. Whilst much of the humour comes from the latter, Milton’s comic additions are perfectly woven in, with a cast of just five necessitating some clever and very funny multi-roling as well as some versatile character acting. Gaps in the plotline are quickly filled in by narrator-protagonists who step briefly out of role to keep us informed while also maintaining a brisk narrative pace. In addition, the script makes full use of references to Bath, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire for some locally-based quips while in true outdoor theatre-style the audience themselves, complete with Pimm’s and picnic hampers, are easy targets for some improvised humour too.
Staging is minimal, as you might expect for an outdoor show, but what we do get is beautifully presented – a backcloth depicting a series of bookshelves, appropriately enough, and a few period chairs and props on a simple, multi-level rostrum. Hayley Pursey’s costume design is typically authentic for the period and there are some enjoyable musical interludes, courtesy of musical director Alex Kraus-Williams, including a recurring and entertaining song about travelling to Bath involving all the cast. Microphones for all cast members is also a huge boon, ensuring none of the dialogue is lost, an issue which afflicts many an outdoor performance.
The sum of all these impressive parts is an engaging and very enjoyable evening of just under two hours which is ideal for a season of largely outdoor performances. Austen seems the perfect choice for a quintessentially English summer evening performance, but this is one which may well ask us to reassess this lesser-known, coming-of-age satire.
★★★★☆ Tony Clarke 18 July 2026
Photography credit: F8 Creates
