Staging Pride and Prejudice
This exhibition looks back to the Bright Young Things of the 1930s and the first major stage adaptation of Pride and Prejudice which enjoyed success on Broadway and in the West End in 1935-6.22 Jan â 10 Jan 2027
In the 1920s and â30s a slew of theatrical adaptations of Pride and Prejudice were performed and published, paving the way for the first big screen adaptation in 1940.
This exhibition will focus on the most successful of those first productions: a sparky adaptation by Helen Jerome entitled Pride and Prejudice: A Sentimental Comedy in Three Acts which enjoyed long runs on Broadway and in the West End in 1935-6, and helped to shape the way the novel is still viewed today.
This exhibition has been co-curated by Devoney Looser, Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University. Devoney has published widely on Jane Austen, including her most recent book Wild for Austen. In her book The Making of Jane Austen she explores the people and performances which shaped Jane Austen’s legacy, with a particular focus on the 1935 stage performance of Colin Keith-Johnston as the first “sexy Darcy” – making her the perfect person to curate this exhibition!
Staging Pride and Prejudice opens on Thursday 22 January 2026 and is free with House entry! This exhibition will run throughout 2026. An online exhibition will also be available!