Jane Austen's Persuasion has been a triumph (Rose Theatre, Kingston,11.03.2022)

Fresh and original approach, contemporary settings and surprising staging - those are some of the attributes related to the Rose Theatre's (Kingston upon Thames) production of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Adapted and directed by Jeff James, this classical Georgian novel has witness a great success thanks to its exciting and completely unexpected interpretation.

Jeff James, said (on Director's talk night, the 11.03. 2022) how modern and relatable Austen's novel was and how he could totally identify himself with the characters' feelings and problems: tension between the husband and wife because one of them has to stay at home and take care of a child whereas the other enjoys more liberty, choosing between marrying for love or for prospect or - generally - making choices in life that can have consequences in the future. This novel was surprisingly contemporary and that is why he decided to mix "the classical" - the actual story, the language and some characteristics and functioning of the society from two hundred years ago - and "the new" - the contemporary pop music and Tik-Tok dance, the sparkling costumes and the neon light, even the bathing in the foam in bikini, which evoked some sexual connotations. Seems like Jeff James found the perfect balance between the two. The play constantly engaged with the 21st century public through the electrifying performance and vigorous dancing, even the hinting on some of the most recent political gaffs ("It's not a party, it's a gathering..."), yet it preserved the novel's style and never vulgarised the scenes.

The world premiere of the James's Persuasion was in 2017, in the Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre. When talking about the difference between the staging the play there and here (at the Rose Theatre), Jeff James said that in Manchester the stage was an open circle and therefore, the choreography and the positions of the actors had to move constantly, so everybody in the public could see and hear them properly. This has been slightly changed and adapted to the Rose's stage, which is wide open, but not a circle. There was also a re-think in the choice of music and dance because James wanted to implement a very contemporary music into his play. However what was considered "in" five years ago, is not necessarily that fashionable today.

The actors seemed to have a good time and plenty of fun, too. The main characters were portrayed by Sasha Frost (Anne) and Fred Fergus (Wentworth), other characters were played by Matilda Bailes (who made her stage debut in the roles of Elizabeth and Luisa), Adam Deary (playing Edmund, Captain Beniwck and Mr. Elliot), Grace Cookey-Gam (Lady Russel, Mrs. Croft), Helen Cripps (Mary), Emilio Doorgasingh (Sir Walter and Admiral croft), Caroline Moroney (Mrs. Clay and Henrietta) and Dorian Simpson (Charles).

The Rose Theatre Artistic Director Christopher Haydon talking to Jeff James (the Director's talk, 11.03.2022)