This May at the Minack : Jane Austen’s "Northanger Abbey" with a contemporary twist 

"Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love." - Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

The Minack Theatre is delighted to celebrate the 250^th Anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth this year with a production that highlights the enduring relevance of her insight into the quirks and complexities of human nature. 

Laughs are never far away in this tangled story of loves desired and unexpected. The play follows country-bred Catherine Morland, who knows little of the world but seizes her chance to escape her claustrophobic family for the glamour of Bath. There she meets sophisticated Isabella Thorpe (Iz to her friends), and soon Cath becomes the heroine of her very own adventure - who needs real-life experience when you have novels to guide you?

In Cooper's imaginative retelling, Catherine Morland's journey from provincial innocence to worldly understanding unfolds with humour, heart and modern sensibility. The production stays true to Austen's razor-sharp observations on society, literature, and the perilous path to self-knowledge, while speaking directly to today's audiences.

Performed by just three actors, this fast-moving adaptation brings a fresh and hilarious perspective to Catherine Morland's story while asking big questions about personal freedom and choice.

The production is directed by Millie Brolly, who has worked on many Minack productions and previously directed Superstition Mountain at the theatre. She comments, “The themes of this piece are as relevant as ever in today’s society, where the pressure to conform and the feeling of needing to conceal your truest self is still, sadly, the case for so many. In bringing this production to life, I’ve aimed to capture the period charm of this piece while keeping true to Cooper’s modern take. The Minack Theatre, with its dramatic cliffside setting, provides the perfect backdrop for this gothic tale and I have enjoyed every minute of bringing this world to life with the most wonderful cast and creative team.”

Northanger Abbey opens at the Minack Theatre on Wednesday 30 April and runs until Thursday 15 May.

For more information visit www.minack.com or call the box office at 01736 810181

About the Production

The production features Eleanor Toms as Cath. Eleanor was last seen at the Minack in Carrie’s War (2024), and previously appeared there in The Secret Garden (2019) and Tom’s Midnight Garden (2023). Another Minack favourite, Ben Kernow, plays Hen. Ben has appeared in many productions at the Minack, most recently The Massive Tragedy of Madame. Later this year, the Minack will present Making a Killing, written by Ben and inspired by the diaries of an infamous 16c hangman. The third member of the cast, Lydea Perkins, is making her Minack debut in this production.

About the Playwright

Zoe Cooper's stage version of Northanger Abbey was premiered in 2024 at the Orange Tree Theatre, London, before touring to Octagon Theatre, Bolton, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, and Theatre by the Lake, Keswick. Zoe Cooper's other plays include Out of Water, which was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and Jess and Joe Forever, which won her the Most Promising Playwright Award at the OffWestEnd Awards.

About the Minack Theatre: The Minack Theatre is a unique open-air theatre situated on the cliffs near Porthcurno. Created by Rowena Cade in 1932, the Minack stages a full season of drama, musicals, and storytelling each year from Easter to October. The theatre welcomes over 200,000 visitors annually and is recognized as one of the world's most spectacular theatrical venues.

For more information about the Minack visit www.minack.com.