Jane Austen Classic Reimagined by Cape Breton Playwright

Mahesh Prabhu & Molly Munroe in rehearsal for Pride & Prejudice

Photo Credit: Wesley J. Colford

Lindsay Thompson has been a force in Cape Breton theatre for the past 25 years. You may have seen her onstage acting, seen the shows she’s directed, witnessed the costumes she’s created, or you may have fallen in love with one of her beloved plays. Now her comedic take on Jane Austen’s 200 year old classic Pride & Prejudice is making its way to the Highland Arts Theatre stage.

Thompson’s plays are no stranger to the HAT. Her musicals Herstory and See Jane Run, as well as her most recent play Sweet Enough, all have found lasting fans in the audiences of the HAT.

                      Lindsay Thompson

“I have always loved this story,” says Thompson, “It is one of my favourite books. It’s incredibly well written, funny, clever and heartfelt with characters and experiences that feel real to the reader. I wanted to direct a show that was very close to the book and most importantly that captured the humour of the book. I felt that the last couple of years have been hard for a lot of people in a lot of ways. The story brings me nothing but joy and I think we all need a bit of joy right now.”

The show boasts a cast of 16 local actors, including long-time collaborators of the downtown venue (such as Carol Anne Gillis, Frank McKibbon, Sabrina Ashford, Alex Poirier) and a handful of MainStage debuts.

“We’ve put on a handful of bigger musicals since the pandemic began but this is the first time we’ve gotten to put a play of this scale on since 2019,” shared Wesley Colford the theatre’s artistic and executive director. “It’s fast, it’s witty. it’s faithful for the die hard fans and it’s accessible and welcoming for anyone who’s never heard the story before. Lindsay creates characters and finds takes on characters that are so loveable. You can’t help but get pulled in by the writing."

The comedy will be directed by Thompson making it her first time directing for the HAT since her first creative collaboration with them in 2016. Choreography is provided by Kiersten Penny with costumes, props, and sets being hand made by Kayla Cormier assisted by Sarah Boutilier and Callum MacPherson.

Pride & Prejudice, opens November 9th and continues through November 13th at 7:30PM with an additional show at 2:00PM on the 15th. A web-stream will also be made available of the show from December 1st to 4th on the HAT’s YouTube channel.

Tickets are on sale now for Pay What You Can pricing with free tickets available for those in need, thanks to the theatre’s Radical Access Program.

Tickets can all be booked online at www.highlandartstheatre.com, by phone at (902) 565-3637, or in person at the HAT's box office at 40 Bentinck Street in Downtown Sydney between noon and 6:00PM, Monday to Friday.


Highland Arts Theatre

40 Bentinck Street, Sydney, NS B1P 1G2

902.565.3637

[email protected]

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