Jane Austen's Emma
Adapted by Ryan Craig
Adapted by Ryan Craig
With Bath currently buzzing with the annual Jane Austen Festival, it feels particularly fitting that Theatre Royal Bath’s latest production should bring one of Austen’s most beloved heroines to life on stage. This 250th anniversary stage production is adapted by Ryan Craig and is appearing in Bath from 11th to the 20th of September, before embarking on a national tour. Last night’s performance of Emma delivered exactly what audiences need: a delightful dose of comedic escapism, wrapped up in the light -hearted wit, charm, and romance that Austen fans know and love.
The high-spirited Emma Woodhouse is determined that she will never marry but loves to meddle in her friends’ and neighbours’ relationships. Emma busies herself arranging romantic connections for others, particularly her friend Harriet Smith, often with misguided results. Her interference leads to a series of misunderstandings, romantic entanglements, and social mishaps that force her to face her own flaws and feelings. Ultimately, Emma learns humility, self-awareness, and the value of true love when she eventually realises her own affection for the honourable Mr. Knightley, leading to a happy resolution for all.
The high-spirited Emma Woodhouse is determined that she will never marry but loves to meddle in her friends’ and neighbours’ relationships. Emma busies herself arranging romantic connections for others, particularly her friend Harriet Smith, often with misguided results. Her interference leads to a series of misunderstandings, romantic entanglements, and social mishaps that force her to face her own flaws and feelings. Ultimately, Emma learns humility, self-awareness, and the value of true love when she eventually realises her own affection for the honourable Mr. Knightley, leading to a happy resolution for all.
India Shaw-Smith
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India Shaw-Smith and William Chubb
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Production Photos by Simon Annand
What struck me most about this production was the balance it achieved between the classic and the contemporary. The staging and styling felt fresh and accessible, while the language and storytelling remained beautifully faithful to the original novel. It’s no easy task to adapt a text so rooted in the early nineteenth century in a way that speaks to modern audiences, but this version of Emma managed it with elegance and ease.
The acting was uniformly strong, with India Shaw-Smith shining in the title role. As Austen readers know, Emma Woodhouse can be a difficult character to portray. She’s headstrong, flawed, often misguided, yet ultimately endearing. Shaw-Smith delivered all of this and more, perfectly capturing Emma’s unique charm and intelligence while allowing glimpses of the vulnerability beneath her confidence. It was a carefully balanced performance that ensured the audience was as captivated by Emma as Austen always intended.
There were memorable standout turns elsewhere too. William Chubb brought great warmth and humour to Mr. Woodhouse, Ed Sayer was a perfectly measured Mr. Knightley and every inch the calm, wise counterpart to Emma’s impulsiveness. Maiya Louise Thapar gave Harriet Smith a lovely mixture of innocence and spirit.
The acting was uniformly strong, with India Shaw-Smith shining in the title role. As Austen readers know, Emma Woodhouse can be a difficult character to portray. She’s headstrong, flawed, often misguided, yet ultimately endearing. Shaw-Smith delivered all of this and more, perfectly capturing Emma’s unique charm and intelligence while allowing glimpses of the vulnerability beneath her confidence. It was a carefully balanced performance that ensured the audience was as captivated by Emma as Austen always intended.
There were memorable standout turns elsewhere too. William Chubb brought great warmth and humour to Mr. Woodhouse, Ed Sayer was a perfectly measured Mr. Knightley and every inch the calm, wise counterpart to Emma’s impulsiveness. Maiya Louise Thapar gave Harriet Smith a lovely mixture of innocence and spirit.
Inidia Shaw Smith and Rose Quentin
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Oscar Batterham, Peter Losasso, Jade Kennedy and India Shaw Smith
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Together, the cast created a vibrant world that felt both recognisable and true to Austen’s original creation. Overall, this Emma adaptation is a triumph. It brings to life the wit, romance, and social satire of Austen’s work in a way that feels timeless yet modern, faithful yet fun. For Austen devotees and newcomers alike, it’s an evening of theatrical escapism not to be missed.