Two and a half centuries after Jane Austen’s birth, Oxford Playhouse will celebrate with a sparkling new adaptation of her beloved comedy of manners Emma. The production, from Theatre Royal Bath, is adapted by playwright Ryan Craig and directed by Stephen Unwin, founder of English Touring Theatre and former Artistic Director of the Rose Theatre.
The show runs 20–25th October 2025, part of a nationwide season honouring Austen’s bicentenary-plus-fifty.
The story
At 21, Emma Woodhouse is clever, charming and independent — and utterly convinced she will never marry. But her delight in matchmaking soon proves more complicated than she anticipates. When her former governess marries Mr Weston, Emma takes credit and launches into a career of amateur Cupid, with comic and romantic consequences.
From Bath’s assembly rooms to the seaside promenades of Weymouth, Austen’s novel turns the foibles of Regency society into a timeless tale of mischief, self-discovery and unexpected love.
The production
Playwright Ryan Craig (best known for What We Did to Weinstein and Filthy Business) adapts Austen’s novel for the stage, balancing her wit with a brisk, contemporary theatrical pace.
Stephen Unwin, whose directing career has spanned the RSC, National Theatre, and the founding of English Touring Theatre, brings his characteristic clarity and emphasis on character to the production.
Produced by Theatre Royal Bath, the staging continues the theatre’s tradition of touring literary classics with high production values and seasoned ensembles.
- Adaptor: Ryan Craig (credits include Charlotte and Theodore at TRB’s Ustinov, 1984 on the Main House stage).
- Director: Stephen Unwin (founder of English Touring Theatre; ex–Artistic Director, Rose Theatre).
- Design: Set & costumes by Ceci Calf; lighting Ben Ormerod; sound John Leonard; choreography Natasha Harrison; music by Matthew Scott.
The cast
Rising star India Shaw-Smith takes the title role of Emma, fresh from her TV debut in Spartacus: House of Ashur.
She is joined by:
- William Chubb (The Sandman, Quiz), returning to Oxford Playhouse as Mr Woodhouse after appearing in TRB’s Farm Hall in 2023.
- Jade Kennedy (Jane Fairfax), also back at the Playhouse following Little Women earlier this year.
- Oscar Batterham, Peter Losasso, Rose Quentin, Daniel Rainford, Ed Sayer, Maiya Louise Thapar, and a strong supporting cast including Jordan Kilshaw, Lukwesa Mwamba, Charlie Norton, Hugh Osborne, Jordan Stamatiadis.
- The company blends established stage veterans with emerging talents, promising an Emma both faithful and fresh.
Tickets and access
Tickets start at £14, with Friends of Oxford Playhouse eligible for up to 50% discounts on selected performances.
- Oxford Playhouse: 11–12 Beaumont St, OX1 2LW
- 12+ running at 2 hours 30 minutes with interval
- 20–25th October 2025: evenings; mats Thu & Sat.
- From £14 | Friends discounts up to 50% | Box office: 01865 305305 and oxfordplayhouse.com
Jane Austen’s Emma UK tour dates
| Dates | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 11–20 Sep | Bath | Theatre Royal Bath |
| 23–27 Sep | Guildford | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre |
| 29 Sep–4 Oct | Birmingham | The Rep |
| 7–11 Oct | Sheffield | Lyceum Theatre |
| 13–18 Oct | Malvern | Malvern Theatres |
| 20–25 Oct | Oxford | Oxford Playhouse |
| 4–8 Nov | Chichester | Chichester Festival Theatre |
| 10–15 Nov | Poole | Lighthouse, Poole |
Emma at a glance: a short history
- 16 December 1775: Jane Austen is born in Steventon, Hampshire.
- 1815: Emma is first published by John Murray, dedicated to the Prince Regent (later George IV). Austen famously disliked the Prince, but his librarian James Stanier Clarke insisted on the dedication.
- Context: The novel was her fourth, following Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813) and Mansfield Park (1814).
- Reception: Early reviews were mixed; Sir Walter Scott admired its realism and subtlety, while others found Emma Woodhouse “spoiled” and hard to like. Austen herself once remarked, “I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.”
- Legacy: Today, Emma is regarded as Austen’s most technically accomplished novel: a sharp satire of class, gender, and social ambition disguised as a romantic comedy.
Adaptations:
- 1940s: BBC radio and early television versions.
- 1972: Six-part BBC miniseries.
- 1996: Two competing versions, a lavish ITV/BBC version starring Kate Beckinsale and the Hollywood film with Gwyneth Paltrow.
- 1995: Clueless, the Beverly Hills teen classic, reimagined Austen’s plot in the world of 90s high school.
- 2020: Emma starring Anya Taylor-Joy, celebrated for its visual wit.
- 2025 – Theatre Royal Bath’s stage adaptation by Ryan Craig, directed by Stephen Unwin, tours the UK to mark Austen’s 250th anniversary.
