Imaginarium Theatre

Pride and Prejudice

★★★★☆

Imaginarium Theatre are a community arts organisation who deliver educational programmes, schools outreach and free youth theatre classes across the Merseyside region. Every year, their Community Ensemble stage a production in The Cockpit Theatre at Shakespeare North Playhouse. This year’s production was a modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by playwright Rob Brannen.

The basics of the story remain unchanged; Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy meet and overcome their initial dislike for one another to eventually fall in love after putting their individual preconceptions aside. The story though is set in a Northern town, with the Bennet family living paycheck to paycheck and feeling the pinch in the cost-of-living crisis. Mrs Bennet wants her 5 daughters to leave home and really start their lives, but they can’t afford to and Elizabeth (renamed to Lizzy throughout this production rather than just called Lizzy by her loved ones), has absolutely no interest in finding a partner. All that changes though when the big house on the edge of town is sold, and the Bennet sisters are introduced to Mr Bingley and his handsome friend Mr Darcy.