Limerick’s Youth Theatres bring Pride and Prejudice to Hunt Museum Gardens this August

Limerick Youth Theatre and County Limerick Youth Theatre present Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen, adapted by Sara Pascoe to The Hunt Museum Gardens this August 16, 17, and 18.

Limerick’s Youth Theatres’ production of Pascoe’s comic adaptation of Pride and Prejudice will bring The Hunt Museum Gardens to life on 16, 17 and 18 August 2023

Limerick City and County youth theatres will join forces to stage an environmentally-friendly piece with props and costumes made out of sustainable materials using the gardens, the river Shannon and the sunset to provide all the theatrical elements to make this a stunning piece of outdoor theatre featuring a quintet from Mad About Music.

The Bennet family has more daughters than income and more income than sense. When an eligible bachelor moves to the neighbourhood Mrs Bennet froths over with frenzied attempts to get her five daughters married at any cost – well not *cost*, they haven’t any money, but no man is too rude, no soldier too untrustworthy, no cousin too annoying to be below consideration. Beautiful Jane likes Bingley but has no way of letting him know. Lizzy hates Darcy and doesn’t mind who knows it. Lydia & Kitty like soldiers in red jackets. Mary likes stationary.

As Shane Hickey O’Mara, director of Pride and Prejudice, and Artistic Director of County Limerick Youth Theatre (CoLYT) says, “Jane Austen’s novel has been adapted numerous times for the stage and screen, and has even spawned graphic novels, a web series, and the notorious Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

“This telling doesn’t have any zombies in it, nor does it have Bridget Jones, Rosamund Pike, or Bollywood dance numbers. Instead, it features the boundless energy and comedy stylings of 24 exceptional teenagers from Limerick city and county.”

Speaking about “why I inflicted Pride and Prejudice on these young artists”, the CoLYT artistic director said, “The truth is that, for the past two centuries, Austen’s story has resonated with generation after generation. People who know this story take it with them, they champion it and share it far and wide; for a novel published 210 years ago, that’s an extraordinary feat!.”

@LimerickYT and @CoLimkYT present ‘’Pride and Prejudice’’ written by Jane Austen adapted by Sara Pascoe and directed by @ShaneSHOM in @HuntMuseum gardens.

Image by @What_Else_Mode in @PeoplesMuseumLK with graphic design by #alinaoshaughnessy. pic.twitter.com/qKwIjUar8o— LimerickYouthTheatre (@LimerickYT) August 7, 2023

He added, “Youth theatres are multitudinous: a place to build confidence and leadership skills, an empathy factory, and a melting pot of creativity. Most importantly, they provide a place to connect, to make friends, to find your tribe. Limerick’s youth theatres are full of young people who think differently, who maybe don’t fit into our CAO-focused education system, those who ask questions and stand out from the crowd: the dancers and dreamers. This collaboration between LYT and CoLYT widens their social and artistic circles and epitomises what youth theatre stands for: Community.”

Limerick Youth Theatre Artistic Director, Angie Smalis said, “We are delighted to be staging Limerick Youth Theatre’s 26th summer show in collaboration with County Limerick Youth Theatre with Shane Hickey-O’Mara driving the project as director supported by a team of professional practitioners. This production is built on sustainability.

“The decision to stage the play in the natural surroundings of the Hunt Museum gardens using no electricity reflects the views expressed by our members in response to climate change and fits in with The Hunt Museum’s current business plan where Climate Action is one of its central themes. We know we are taking a risk with the weather but we are keeping our fingers crossed that the deluges of July will pass.”

The Limerick Youth Theatre performance is possible thanks to the financial support from the Arts Council under its Young Ensembles scheme, Limerick City & County Council strategic fund and Limerick Clare Education & Training Board.

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