![OLD FRIENDS: A promotional scene from Ballarat National Theatre's 2018 show of Pride and Prejudice with cast in Ballarat Botanical Gardens. OLD FRIENDS: A promotional scene from Ballarat National Theatre's 2018 show of Pride and Prejudice with cast in Ballarat Botanical Gardens.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/XBHRDThPr8rZ8LC4FzPP7b/36fdfa98-d780-4549-853a-56c7a5bc2854.jpg/r0_0_1652_1236_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
THERE is a sense of comfort for Ballarat National Theatre returning to old friends and a timeless love story during a pandemic.
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The company, one of the oldest in regional Australia, is bringing Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice back to life in a way it had never considered before isolation life - in podcast form.
And early impressions show there is a real hunger for the story to be told once more.
Ballarat National Theatre has requests for audition packs from actors across Ballarat and Melbourne, then word spread to Sydney, Perth, London and the United States.
Pride and Prejudice director said Liana Skewes said the company had to look hard to find a different way to tell the story in isolation.
Everybody kept saying we need Colin Firth to play Mr Darcy but no, we do not need Colin Firth as he is not Mr Darcy incarnate.
- Liana Skewes, Pride and Prejudice director
There has been a wealth of performances streamed online, and live theatre via online conferencing platforms. Stars such as Stephen Fry, Daniel Radcliffe and David Beckham have been reading aloud from Harry Potter. Performers from the Globe Theatre have been posting Shakespeare sonnets on Twitter.
Ms Skewes said the cast from Ballarat National Theatre's 2018 sold-out Pride and Prejudice had a social group chat, each missing the chance to act, and this was where the idea had started. They could not bring the play back so soon, due to copyright limits, but they could make a dramatised version of the Austen text.
The concept evolved rapidly, within weeks and the first episode is set for an impending release in mid-May.
"It's about bringing a little bit of happiness, joy and nostalgia into what are challenging times in the world," Ms Skewes said. "Ballarat National Theatre is only a small company. We only do a couple of shows each year. We do radio plays for Ballarat Heritage Weekend based on visual gags, so they're not easy to adapt online.
"Ballarat National Theatre hasn't done anything like this before."
Ms Skewes said in an added challenge, Austen favoured narration over dialogue and Pride and Prejudice featured a lot of letters.
The company does not want a straight reading and, by bringing in a cast of characters based purely on their voice, she hoped to add a new perspective to the tale.
Relying solely on voice has also allowed director Liana Skewes greater liberties and diversity in casting compared to traditional theatre, in particular, old productions with well-worn expectations for character appearance and even race. This circumnavigated looks to focus on finding the best voice.
At the same time, Ms Skewes has been careful to keep in mind Austen's strong legion of fans have particularly parochial views of beloved characters. Most notably when it comes to Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.
"Everybody kept saying we need Colin Firth to play Mr Darcy but no, we do not need Colin Firth as he is not Mr Darcy incarnate. People need to separate the two," Ms Skewes said.
"There is a whole era divided between the two screenplays - the Keira Knightley film or the BBC version.
"...People forget the fact Elizabeth was actually in love with Mr Wickham. In the book she said she intended to steal all that was left of his heart. We're hoping to explore some things people forget about in the book. We want to honour the text above all."
We're hoping to explore some things people forget about in the book. We want to honour the text above all.
- Liana Skewes, Pride and Prejudice director
The project had started in secret in early April. Word gradually leaked through the broader theatre community. Austen-like auditions started being sent in before the company had even announced the name of the play.
About half Ballarat National Theatre's original Pride and Prejudice cast has returned. What The Courier can say is Mr Darcy is new.
Ms Skewes said such a strong, widespread interest in the project has allowed the company to build a waiting list. Should Pride and Prejudice in podcast form be successful, this could open a whole new platform on which to build.
Other titles like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Louisa May Alcott's Little Women and more Austen have been bandied about for potential next performances.
To start, the company will focus on perfecting Pride and Prejudice. Episodes, about 10 to 15 minutes each, will cover a few chapters at a time and drop weekly to start.
Ms Skewes hoped it would introduce a whole new audience to theatre.
Ballarat National Theatre company will show two Australian plays, Australia Day and Children of the Black Skirt when the season resumes from pandemic suspension.
Follow Ballarat National Theatre Company's social media on Facebook and Instagram for details on how and when to listen.
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