Austenmania! Exhibition Opens 22 January
We’re kicking off 2025, the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, with a brand-new exhibition: Austenmania! looks back to 1995, an iconic year for Austen adaptations on film and TV.
30 years on, we’ll celebrate the four landmark film and TV adaptations that were first seen in 1995– from Andrew Davies’ seminal adaptation of Pride and Prejudice for the BBC starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, to Emma Thompson and Ang Lee’s stunning big-screen adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, BBC Screen Two’s quiet, unhurried adaptation of Persuasion starring Amanda Root and Ciarán Hinds, and finally the frothy masterpiece that is Clueless! – a brilliant reimagining of Emma set in the L.A. hills.
The display will showcase items from De Montfort University’s Andrew Davies (screenwriter for P&P) and Sue Birtwistle Archives (producer of P&P) including two original Pride and Prejudice transmission scripts alongside objects from our own collection including production shots, film posters and merchandise.
Scripts and production notes from the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice adaptation.
Enjoy a trip back to the 1990s when Austenmania was in full swing!
Opening on 22 January, Austenmania! will run throughout 2025 and is free with House entry. Find out more here.
To find out more about our celebrations in 2025 to mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, head over to our dedicated Jane Austen 250 page.
We are delighted that this exhibition is supported by De Montfort University and the BBC.
