Bristol Theatre Reviews

Review: The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged)

The whole Austen canon comes to life at speed in this sparkling show

The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged) is a very smart show. It takes the audience through the entire canon of Jane Austen’s work in around 80 minutes.

With facts, historical context of Regency England and patriarchal attitudes, it breaks down the themes both in Austen’s writing and life in witty and succinct ways.

It cleverly relates these back through British pop culture throwing in such things as Blind Date, nerd culture, Janeite culture and iconic TV. It’s a bit like an Austen ‘Horrible Histories’ but without the horrible. This makes it feel really accessible and relatable to a wide audience.

It’s funny stuff and written by a group of people who clearly love the writer’s work.


Schoolhouse Productions – the in-house theatre company at the Alma Tavern Theatre – are staging the show through October.

Three strong comic actors – Jaleelah Galbraith, Emma Giles and Nina Bright – make it a delightful watch.

Review The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged) Alma Tavern Theatre Bristol
Left to Right – Nina Bright, Emma Giles and Jaleelah Galbraith


Gailbraith and Giles play two actors who find themselves having to teach an understudy – Nina Bright – the entire back catalogue of Austen’s work to stage the show. This is a clever device allowing for those not familiar with all of the books to follow the gist of them very easily.

In the performance, there’s nods to all the popular Austen TV shows and movies, including the GOAT 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice. This also includes movies and even a highly accurate Alan Rickman Sense and Sensibility performance.

Jaleelah and Emma have a lovely friendship between them, echoing the vibrancy and intimacy of the ones they discuss within Austen’s work.

Nina Bright as the late-arriving understudy brilliantly handled all of our favourite male characters, from the awful Mr Collins to a Snapeish Colonel Brandon.

The three actors are well cast together creating a really warm and entertaining piece of theatre.

Director Anna Friend handles the busy pace of the show, allowing it to remain fun and energetic without falling into frenetic.

The set is cleverly dressed with a gradient feel from a Mr Bennett’s office setting one side to a Regency drawing room the other.

Overall, the show sparkles with the vibe of Carl Davis’ ‘Meet the Family’ theme from Pride & Prejudice. It’s a really lovely production that brightens the miserable evenings.

The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged) will be at the Alma Tavern Theatre until Saturday 19 October 2024

For more information or to book, visit: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/almatheatrecompany/1294126?

Cast and Creatives
Jaleelah Galbraith
Emma Giles
Nina Bright

Written by – Jessica Bedford, Kathryn MacMillan, Charlotte Northeast and Meghan Winch

Directed by Anna Friend
Assistant director, producer and design – Holly Newton
Photography: Edward J. Felton

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