Tim Luscombe
Emma
While Emma’s world is one of secrecy, missed cues and failed attempts to influence others, handsome and mischievous Frank Churchill is also hiding a secret. He’s determined to use Emma to further his own romantic scheme. Will Mr Churchill have his way with Emma, or will she foil his plan?
Keeping faithfully to the original, this version honours Austen’s central themes and transports its famous characters to the stage, including the dashing and restrained Mr Knightley, the comically hypochondriac Mr Woodhouse and the sublimely dull Miss Bates.
Published by Stagescripts in 2018, the play was produced by The Production Exchange with Colin Blumenau as director. It opened in Leatherhead in May 2017. The production then played through the summer of 2017 at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Theatre Royal Bath, Oxford Playhouse, Festival Theatre Malvern and Cambridge Arts Theatre.
One obvious amendment has been to set the play in Epsom and not the fictional Austen village of Highbury, a decision made after some careful investigation led Luscombe to deduce that Epsom was the real setting chosen by Austen.
The Reviews Hub
★★★★★
authentic and accessible... you will surely fall in love.... an absolute must see
Essential Surrey
Translating such a work from the page to the stage is no easy task but it is one that adaptor Tim Luscombe clearly excels in.
The Reviews Hub