Pride and Prejudice (sort of) is coming to Canberra to bewitch you, body and soul

Posted on 17 August, 2026

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person looking for something to do must be in want of a good theatre show to attend.

Luckily for those craving something that’s packed with wit, music and boundless energy, the five-star musical comedy sensation Pride and Prejudice (*sort of) is coming to Canberra this September.

And it may just bewitch you, body and soul.

A fresh, fearless and hilarious new take on Jane Austen’s classic novel, the critically acclaimed hit will be transforming the Canberra Theatre Centre into Georgian-era England as it subverts one of literature’s most beloved romances.

Because Pride and Prejudice (*sort of) isn’t the world of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy that you know and love. Instead, this version is told through the voices of the household servants – and they have a lot to say.

“It’s more playful. It gives us license to be a bit cheeky, because ultimately, this is how the servants are perceiving their masters,” says actor Amy Lehpamer, known for her lead roles in stage productions of The Sound of Music, and The Rocky Horror Show.

“They’re very faithful to the story. They’re very invested in the romance, but it does give us license to bear out the characteristics of our characters in a slightly more comedic way.”

Like the other four Pride and Prejudice (*sort of) performers, Amy plays multiple characters in the show and says that adapter Isabel McArthur has created a unique and audacious retelling that sits somewhere in between the original Austen text and a sitcom.

“The servants break the fourth wall. They’re talking directly to the audience, and so because of that, the show uses slightly more modern language in its delivery.”

“Comedy is the beating heart of this production, so we want to be able to get to the punchlines. As funny as I think Jane Austen’s writing is, I’d say it’s probably more on the witty side.”

Coming direct to Canberra from London’s West End – where it won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy – Pride and Prejudice (*sort of) is part period drama and part pop concert.  You won’t hear any Bridgerton-esque string quartets – ine a string of beloved pop classics including Young Hearts Run Free, and You’re So Vain.

“It’s taking advantage of that postmodern style where you might see a fusion of the old and the new, so there’s more contemporary songs woven through,” explains Amy.

“For instance, at the Meryton ball when Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet first connect, they sing a duet, and they sing Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow…the songs are there to advance the narrative, and it’s a fun device because these characters can be a little repressed. They don’t necessarily know how to express their feelings, and song is always a fun way of exploring that kind of heightened emotionality.”

It’s been over 200 years since Austen first published Pride and Prejudice. Centuries later, her legacy endures, continuing to capture hearts and minds as endless adaptations of the work make their way into the world.

And while Pride and Prejudice (*sort of) might not be the exact story you know, Amy says that even the most devoted Austen fans will enjoy the production as men, money and microphones are fought over when romance, class and chaos collide.

“They’ll enjoy the fact that they get to see these characters in a slightly new light, and that it’s a new way of telling a story that they love,” she says.

“I have it on good authority that it delights people who love the book, and it also delights people who don’t know it at all, because it does make sure that it hits all the plot points. You can bring someone who’s uninitiated into the world of Pride and Prejudice and they will still have a wonderful time.”

Images supplied.