Clare Castle Country Park to stage This is My Theatre’s production of Jane Austen’s Persuasion

A touring theatre company will be venturing to Clare for the first time when its production of Persuasion is staged in the town.

Sussex-based This is My Theatre’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s much-loved love story will be staged in Clare Castle Country Park - half was between Sudbury and Haverhill - at 7pm on Friday, June 7 as part of its spring and summer tour.

It has been adapted by Ethan Taylor.

Director Sarah Slater, said of the production: “We have created this adaptation to be fun and vibrant to capture imaginations and engage audiences of all ages.

“We are really excited to be continuing our tradition of stylised, family-friendly and farcical adaptations in historic places and atmospheric spaces.

“Always a firm favourite with company members and audiences, this production of the much-loved novel will remain faithful to the original text whilst also brought to life with too many roles and not enough performers to fill them, imbuing the show with a farcical jeopardy and clinically-executed tomfoolery.

“This will offer our audiences a hilarious telling and see these well-known characters take the stage in a production like no other.

“Suitable for audiences of all ages and with live music throughout arranged by the company’s resident composer Simon Stallard our adaptation of Jane Austen’s witty and poignant love story is packed with harmony, hilarity and plenty of hats and is sure to be all that TIMT audiences have come to love about our shows.”

In the story, Anne Elliott is persuaded to reject Frederick Wentworth by her family and friends but when the Elliott's circumstances alter and Wentworth returns eight years later, as a commended naval officer no less, old sparks are rekindled.

But can either be convinced to give love a second chance.

Persuasion has, said the theatre company, a similarly choreographed, character-swapping style to its previous critically-acclaimed productions of The Importance of Being Earnest (2018), The Three Musketeers (2020) and A Comedy of Errors (2022).

Persuasion will be performed at one more Suffolk venue, when it is staged at St John the Baptist Church in Stanton on Tuesday, June 11 at 7pm.

Tickets are available to purchase at www.thisismytheatre.com/persuasion