the chapterhouse national tour of china

Pride and Prejudice

by jane austen - adapted by laura turner

We are thrilled to be returning to China this Autumn, bringing our critically acclaimed production of Pride and Prejudice to several theatres and concert halls across the country, from Beijing to Chengdu to Shanghai.

A beloved classic from master of satire Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice follows the headstrong Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates the etiquette and expectations of regency society whilst clashing with the enigmatic Mr Darcy. One of the world’s most beloved love stories and Austen’s most enduring work, Pride and Prejudice is a timeless classic about the power of first impressions and the unlikely joys and sorrows of love.

Following an opening night on at Louth Riverhead Theatre on September 28th, the production will then go on to tour across China for five weeks.

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praise for Pride and Prejudice

"Seems to have leapt straight from Austen’s pages."

THE STAGE

" Expertly adapted…thoroughly enjoyable"

THE NORTHERN ECHO

introducing the cast:

TROY CHESSMAN
Mr Bingley / Mr Gardiner / Col. Fitzwilliam

Troy trained at both Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Southampton Solent. Troy has a passion for classical theatre and has performed in many classical productions in both the UK and internationally. His most recent credits include Colin in The Secret Garden and Algernon Moncrieff in The Importance Of Being Earnest (Chapterhouse UK summer tour 2023) Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (Chapterhouse Christmas 2022 tour) Romeo in Romeo & Juliet and Mr Wickham/Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice (Chapterhouse UK Summer tour 2022) Dorian Gray in Dorian Gray (The point, Eastleigh) Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities (Sai wan Ho Civic Centre, Hong Kong) Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (UK Tour/ Edinburgh Fringe) Sam in Looking Down on me (UK Tour/Edinburgh Fringe) and Clyde Barrow in Bonnie & Clyde (Nuffield Southampton Theatre). Troy is delighted to be returning to Pride and Prejudice in a brand-new role.

ARABELLA COLDSTREAM
Charlotte Lucas / Mary Bennet / Mrs Reynolds

Arabella is a London based actor who trained at Arts Ed, graduating from the MA Acting course in 2022. Her theatre credits include Unknown by Rise Strong (Edinburgh Fringe 2019), 13 by Mike Bartlett (Arts Ed 2022), The Snow Queen (Christmas Tour 2022) and Little Red Riding Hood (Tour 2023) both with Hobgoblin Theatre Company. Arabella completed her first short film 'Getting Ahead’ back in November 2022 in connection with London Film School. She is very excited to be off on her first international tour to China with Chapterhouse this autumn and is looking forward to diving into the world of Pride of Prejudice!

ALAN McLAREN
Mr Wickham / Mr Collins / Sir William Lucas

Alan comes from Glasgow and trained at Italia Conti in London. He has been lucky enough to travel throughout the UK in various productions, playing such roles as Tom Ripley in The Talented Mr Ripley, John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Eric Birling in An Inspector Calls. Alan feels incredibly excited to be returning to the role of Mr Collins, one he loved performing in the UK and hopes you all enjoy this adaptation of one of the world’s greatest novels.

RORY MONCASTER
Mr Darcy / Mr Bennet

Rory trained at East 15 Acting school in London, graduating in 2018. Since then, he has worked primarily in theatre both classical and contemporary. This is Rory's second time touring China with Chapterhouse after appearing in the 2019 production of Wuthering Heights playing Hindley / Hareton. He is incredibly excited to be back touring the beautiful country of China and performing to fantastic audiences. Other theatre credits include; A Christmas Carol (UK tour), I Love You Mum I Promise I Won’t Die (UK tour) Cranford (UK / Ireland Tour) Modern Times (Union Theatre Southwark, London) Antony & Cleopatra (Stockwell Playhouse, London) Blue Stockings (Corbett Theatre, Essex) The Pillowman (Seven Dials Playhouse, London) Hamlet (Ellen Terry Theatre, Kent) and She Would If She Could (Joan Littlewood Theatre, Essex).

LEEANN RANA
Mrs Bennet / Lady Catherine / Mrs Gardiner

Leeann has been performing for 30 years following her Degree in Drama and English. She has a rich and varied performance experience, from short films to musical theatre to Shakespeare – and everything in between! Her notable theatre credits include Rita in Educating Rita (The Little Theatre), Baroness Bomburst in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (The Haymarket Theatre), Pam in The Full Monty (Curve Theatre), Margaret in 9 to 5 (Curve Studio) and Beryl in Made in Dagenham (The Little Theatre). Leeann is an avid Austen fan and is therefore absolutely thrilled to be taking part in Chapterhouse’s tour of Pride and Prejudice, one of her favourite novels, whilst exploring a country she has always wished to visit.

NATASHA STIVEN
Elizabeth Bennet

Natasha is a Scottish, London-based actor. She trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London. Whilst at ALRA she played Nerissa in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, Sasha in Anton Chekhov’s Ivanov and Pip in Great Expectations. Professionally she has enjoyed playing a variety of roles across stage and screen including short films, new writing, and fringe theatre. She has toured with Chapterhouse previously, most recently in their 2022 production of A Christmas Carol, and is delighted to be returning to China for the second time, having toured Wuthering Heights with the company in 2019, playing the role of Catherine.

CHARLOTTE WARE
Jane Bennet / Georgina Darcy / Miss de Bourgh

Charlotte Ware is a graduate of the Actor Musicianship course at Rose Bruford College. Her recent acting credits include: Honeypot: The Musical (The Other Palace), Good luck to you, Leo Grande (dir. Sophie Hyde) and A Christmas Carol (Chapterhouse Theatre Company). As well as an actor, Charlotte is an accomplished saxophonist, and plays for top venues and private events.

VICTORIA WHITWELL
Lydia Bennet/ Caroline Bingley

Victoria Whitwell grew up in North Lincolnshire and trained in musical theatre for three years at The Hammond School in Cheshire before moving to London in 2021 to complete her Master’s in Actor and Performer Training at Rose Bruford. In 2022 she played Electra in Zinnie Harris’s This Restless House (Stone Nest, the West End). Other credits include Olivia in Twelfth Night and Belle in Beauty and the Beast. She has more recently been working on a project within Puppetry.