Cast set for Jane Austen’s Emma on tour

Theatre Royal Bath will stage a new production of Emma, adapted by Ryan Craig and directed by Stephen Unwin, from 11 to 20 September ahead of a national tour.

The production marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with a retelling of her story about Emma Woodhouse, who, while vowing never to marry, takes great interest in arranging the romances of those around her.

Her well-intentioned but misguided efforts lead her into a complex series of entanglements, raising the question of whether she will eventually fall in love herself.

India Shaw-Smith, who will soon appear on television in Spartacus: House of Asher, will play Emma, joined by Oscar Batterham as Philip Elton, William Chubb as Mr Woodhouse, Jade Kennedy as Jane Fairfaix, Peter Losasso as Frank Churchill, Rose Quentin as Augusta Hawkins, Daniel Rainford as Robert Martin, Ed Sayer as George Knightley and Maiya Louise Thapar as Harriet Smith.

The cast also includes Jordan Kilshaw, Lukwesa Mwamba, Charlie Norton, Hugh Osborne and Jordan Stamatiadis.

Following its Bath run, the tour will visit the Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford, Birmingham Rep, Sheffield Lyceum, Malvern Theatre, Oxford Playhouse and Lighthouse Poole.

A second, and separate, new stage adaptation also runs next month.