Welcome to
Jane Austen Reader's Theatre.
How It Works:
At each performance, three actors read chapters of an Austen novel out loud, bringing the narration and characters to life. With no rehearsal beforehand, they read through as many chapters as they can in 90 minutes. Two weeks later, they pick up exactly where they left off last time. The actors rotate in and out, but the format remains the same each time!
What is Reader's Theatre?
Before the internet, television, or even radio, humans used to read books aloud to one another as a way to entertain themselves.
We at Jane Austen Reader's Theatre believe that authors who wrote books before the advent of modern technologies – including and especially Jane Austen – composed their work with reading aloud in mind.
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Reader's theatre is a theatrical art form in which participants bring narrative text to life without using costumes, props, or stage production. (Think of it as having an audiobook performed live right in front of you!) It's the perfect way for small communities to gather in person and enjoy a book together.
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From surviving letters, we know that Jane Austen herself was famous among her family for her skill at reading novels aloud. It therefore stands to reason that Austen drew upon her own dramatic talents when creating her distinctive narrative voice! Through a reader's theatre performance, Austen fans and future Austen fans alike can experience Jane Austen's narrative voice as a community event.
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Our Goals:
To prove that reading novels aloud can provide enjoyment for modern audiences.
To prove that audiences can enjoy attending each installment of a novel, OR equally enjoy overhearing a few chapters by accident.
To provide a relaxed artistic outlet for Bay Area performers that requires minimal time commitment.
“She was forced to listen; his reading was capital, and her pleasure in good reading extreme.”
Jane Austen, Mansfield Park
