If you’ve ever read Pride and Prejudice and thought, This could use a few more shots of gin and a lot less restraint, then prepare for the night of your life. When Lady Rantingham hits the town, decorum goes out the window, and what unfolds is Plied and Prejudice – a boozy riot so scandalous, it would have Lady Catherine reaching for her smelling salts.
Oh! Fair Pemberley, a stately sight,
Yet drowned tonight in gin and light,
For Darcy broods and Lizzie glows,
And Bingley flails on drunken toes.
The Bennet girls – a frightful glee,
A trio bound in tapestry,
One sweet, one sassy, one loves the grave,
(And all in one poor bloke to save).
With waistcoats torn and cravats askew,
The men do strut, the ladies too,
And if you dare decline a dance,
Prepare for Collins’ mating prance.
The stage is mad, the wigs are wild,
Lady Catherine is not beguiled,
For in this play, decorum’s dead —
Just grab a drink, dance on instead!
If Austen saw this merry sight,
She’d laugh, she’d scowl, she’d rage, she’d write!
But one thing’s sure — if Jane were here,
She’d absolutely demand more beer.
Fresh from turning the Aussies into Regency-loving rascals, Plied and Prejudice has stumbled into London, bringing with it five actors, twenty characters, and an unwavering commitment to complete and utter chaos. Think Pride and Prejudice, but if Lydia Bennet were in charge of the narrative, and the Bennet estate had been turned into the world’s rowdiest pub.
Where exactly is it?
You’ll find The Vaults Theatre a five-minute promenade from the suited-and-booted bustle of Waterloo station. The entrance lies just off nearby Launcelot Street, taking you under chuntering railway tracks and into a pre-show space complete with live musicians, photo ops and, most importantly, a bar.
Austen, But Make It Drunk
The moment you step into The Vaults, you know you’re in for something special – a Jane Austen fever dream where wisteria-draped elegance meets the unmistakable scent of spilt cocktails and impending mischief. There’s live music, there are pun-based cocktails (we see you, “Dark & Darcy”), and there’s an air of anticipation that something truly unhinged is about to unfold.
London, UK. 12 Mar 2025. Plied & Prejudice in The Vaults in London Waterloo. A new immersive comedy adaptation of the Jane Austen’s most loved novel timed to mark the 250th anniversary of her birth. With a set designed by theatre designer Penny Challen who has made sets for the Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company, English National Opera and the National Theatre. Produced by Woodward Productions it runs from 13th March. Credit: Guy Bell/Alamy Live News
And unfold it does. In a performance that defies both reason and gravity, five exceptionally game actors fling themselves across the stage (and occasionally into the audience) in a whirlwind of rapid character changes, absurd dance routines, and increasingly creative ways to mock the social etiquette of the early 19th century. Mr Collins is even more insufferable than usual (in the best way), Lady Catherine is a banshee in a bonnet, and Mr Darcy – well, let’s just say the wet shirt contest is no longer just a BBC fantasy.
In a frankly athletic display of versatility, improvisation and, often times, dexterity, the cast race between their characters, zip in and out of ample bosom-stamped dresses, writhe on the floor, and weave between the audience. They literally go head over heels to entertain you. The clever costume design allows for seamless, in-front-of-your-eyes transformations – think onion-layer changes that strip away or build up multiple personas in seconds. It’s like watching theatrical witchcraft.
Audience Participation – Whether You Like It or Not
One of the great joys (or terrors, depending on how much attention you like) of Plied and Prejudice is its commitment to audience involvement. If you’re the sort who enjoys a bit of theatrical mayhem, this is your moment to shine – whether that’s as an unsuspecting recipient of a thoroughly inappropriate Regency proposal or as a key player in ensuring Mr Darcy reaches peak dampness. If, however, you’d rather remain a passive observer, best sit at the back and try not to make eye contact.
You Are Cordially Invited To The Darcy-Bennet Reception
But wait – this isn’t just a play. No, dear reader, you are not merely an audience member, doomed to clap politely from the shadows. Plied and Prejudice takes immersive theatre to its scandalous extremes by inviting you to join the revelry.
Once the on-stage antics conclude, the evening transforms into the Darcy-Bennet wedding reception – think Regency meets raucous discotheque. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to properly flounce across a ballroom but also throw down some disco moves with a modern twist, this is your moment. Group dancing, comedy waltzing, and even a few surprise dance-offs ensue.
And yes, you can chat with the actors. (As I did. Repeatedly. Possibly while still clinging to the last dregs of my Wickham Whirl).
A personal highlight was chatting after the show with Emma Andreatta, the wonderfully bonkers Australian-Italian actress, who flitted between characters with a manic energy that can only be described as theatrical espresso. And, of course, Mr Darcy himself, Tim Walker, who not only brooded like a champ but threw himself into the madness of multiple roles, demonstrating comedic chops that would make even Colin Firth’s wet shirt blush.
Would Jane Austen Approve?
Absolutely not. But that’s precisely why this show is so bloody brilliant.
Plied and Prejudice takes the beloved bones of Austen’s masterpiece and douses them in gin, glitter, and unadulterated irreverence. It’s fast, it’s filthy (by period drama standards), and it’s just about the most fun you can have while pretending to be cultured.
Would I recommend it? Without a doubt. Just don’t expect to leave with your dignity intact.
Plied and Prejudice runs at The Vaults in London Waterloo until July 2025. Tickets available from https://pliedandprejudice.com/london/.
