October 12: Jane Austen is dreaming up Mr Darcy, a proud, lip-curling, handsome creation in very tight pants. But when a visitor approaches, Jane must hastily hide her work, and Mr. Darcy is left dangling.
Unhappy with his current storyline, and left to his own devices, Darcy decides to embroider his own plot line, running amok in other writer’s tales, while his creator stitches her quilt. When Jane returns to her work, she finds Darcy diving into a lake in a clinging white shirt, and dancing to a very different tune.
In Mr Darcy Loses the Plot, the pair explores the world of women writers - Austen, Gaskell and du Maurier - scribbling in secret or under pseudonyms, squeezing in their writing amongst the hustle and bustle of taking tea, choosing chintz and having the vapours.
In addition, as part of a wider project, and inspired by Jane Austen’s personal seamstress skills, the company have enlisted the work of volunteers from across the country to create panels for a large quilt, which acts as a backdrop to the stage.
The quilt, which depicts both scenes from the play, and tributes to the female writers mentioned in the story, will be added to as the show tours around the country.
Celebrate the 200th commemoration year of Jane Austen with Lipservice’s affectionately irreverent tribute to her work at the Corn Exchange on October 12, 7.45pm.
Tickets £16 (£14 concessions).
To book tickets, click here.
Alternatively call the Box Office on 0845 5218 218.