December 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Regency author Jane Austen, an occasion being marked around the country — and around the world — with special Jane Austen 250 events. London's theatres are going all out to mark the occasion, with on-stage retellings, adaptations and one absolutely raucous take on her novels. Get booking.
Being Mr Wickham at the Jermyn Street Theatre
Picking up 30 years after Pride & Prejudice ends, Being Mr Wickham centres around the roguish George Wickham on the eve of his 60th birthday, retelling the novel's story from his own perspective. A quick recap of Pride & Prejudice: Wickham is a soldier at the local barracks close to the Bennet family home. He claims Mr Darcy disinherited him, but it later transpires that Wickham actually attempted to elope with Darcy's young sister, Georgiana. Oh, and ultimately Wickham runs off with 15 year old Lydia, the youngest Bennet sister, bringing scandal on the family until Mr Darcy steps in and convinces the pair to marry.
Adrian Lukis — who played Mr Wickham in the BBC's 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice — wrote and stars in this one-man play, which premiered in 2019 at the Jane Austen Festival in Bath. It's since had sell-out runs in the West End and New York, and is revived at the Jermyn Street Theatre in time for the Jane Austen 250 celebrations.
12-30 August 2025.
Death Comes To Pemberley
Being Mr Wickham (above) isn't the only contemporary work which picks up after Pride & Prejudice ends. Death Comes To Pemberley is a 2011 novel by mystery writer P.D. James, later turned into a BBC mini series, and now taking the form of a stage show, currently on a UK tour.
Six years after Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy marry, a man dies in the grounds of their home, Pemberley. The murder victim is Captain Denny, a minor character from the novel, who jumped from a carriage and ran into the woods, where he was found dead. Riding with him in the carriage were Lydia Bennet and her husband Mr Wickham, the latter following him into the woods and now being accused of his murder.
Churchill Theatre Bromley (19-23 August 2025) and Richmond Theatre Richmond (9-13 September 2025) among other UK dates.
Clueless the Musical at Trafalgar Theatre
As if! 1995 teen film Clueless was based on Jane Austen's novel Emma, though admittedly with significantly more plaid, and a wardrobe set-up that Emma Woodhouse could only dream of. It was marketed as a loose adaptation of the book when it was released, as is Clueless the Musical, on at London's Trafalgar Theatre for a couple more weeks.
Popular and wealthy high school student Cher Horowitz mirrors the role of the eponymous Emma, playing matchmaker with her Beverly Hills friends, often unsuccessfully. Themes of social class and social cues run through both, though the musical has the additional bonus of a soundtrack written by KT Tunstall.
Until 23 August 2025.
Pride & Prejudice at the Actors' Church
Craving a traditional take on Jane Austen's work? Award-winning theatre company Illyria has you covered, performing Pride & Prejudice in the open-air at the Actor's Church in Covent Garden. Take a seat (or bring your own blanket) and enjoy a picnic as Mrs Bennet attempts to marry off her daughters, matchmaking Jane with their new neighbour Mr Bingley, and steering Elizabeth away from the disdainful Mr Darcy.
3-4 September 2025.
Plied & Prejudice at The Vaults Theatre
Mr Darcy famously dubs Lizzy Bennet as "tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me" after their first meeting. Wonder if he'd have changed his mind after a couple of pints? Find out at Plied & Prejudice at The Vaults Theatre, described as "equal parts performance and party", with five actors chaotically taking on an impressive 20 roles between them.
Step into Pemberley for Mr Darcy's booziest ball, and be a part of the performance with dance lessons on the catwalk stage, and a recreation of that wet shirt scene, as Austen's story plays out in front of you. Free flowing drinks are brought to your table by 'servants', with a themed cocktail menu including the Dark & Darcy (espresso martini) or the Wickham Whirl, a Regency twist on a frozen margarita.
Booking until 25 October 2025.
Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel at Vaudeville Theatre
It's a tragedy universally acknowledged that Austen only wrote six complete novels... not that that stops improv theatre company Austentatious. Most Mondays at the Vaudeville Theatre, the audience provides the cast with the title for a new Jane Austen novel. The actors then create a Regency-inspired storyline around that title live on stage, performed in period costume with live musical accompaniment.
The titles of recent shows have included Mr Darcy Tries Short Shorts, Bitches in Britches, Mrs Darcy and the Incontinent Gardener, Tent and Tent Stability, Purse & Perspiration, and Mansfield Snog.
Booking until 15 December 2025.
Emma at Rose Theatre Kingston
Another modern take on Austen's fourth book, theatre show Emma sets the action in the 21st century, following Emma Woodhouse as she returns to her hometown from Oxford University for the summer and meddles in the lives of her nearest and dearest — including her best friend Harriet's. See it at Rose Theatre Kingston this autumn.
17 September-11 October 2025.
