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Written by
Penny Ashton -
From the novel by
Jane Austen -
Directed by
Hillary Moulder
World Premiere
Austen fans are in for a treat with this witty version of the classic novel!
Sense and Sensibility follows passionate, emotional Marianne and practical, steady Elinor Dashwood as they balance sensible behaviour and sensitivity, life and love, after their father’s death.
A cast of six women create 22 vibrant characters in Penny Ashton’s joyous retelling of this whirlwind journey of romance and sisterhood.
“Not only is it charming, passionate and funny, but it is still wildly relevant; a widowed mother trying to provide for her family of girls faced with a wage gap and respiratory infections, all in a time of extreme housing uncertainty? 1811 starts to look a lot like 2023.”
– Penny Ashton, Writer
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Key Dates
- 11 February 2023: Opening night
- 13 February 2023: Forum - a special performance where audiences get to ask cast and crew questions after the show
- 14 February 2023: Pay what you can
- 4 March 2023: Matinee performance at 2pm
- 11 March 2023: Closing night
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Tickets
Adult $62 - $68 Senior (65+) $55 - $62 Group (6+) 10% Discount on Standard Adult, Friends, Child and Senior price tickets Friends of The Court Theatre $52 - $58 Child (under 18) $34 Student ID cardholders $34 Community Services or Hāpai Access cardholders $34 -
Cast
Rebekah Head
Margaret Dashwood, Colonel Brandon, Harry Dashwood, Mr Palmer, Miss Lucy Steele
Kim Garrett
Fanny Dashwood, Henry Dashwood, John Middleton, Miss Grey, Dr Harris, Thomas
Isayah Snow
Understudy: Elinor Dashwood, Margaret Dashwood, Colonel Brandon, Harry Dashwood, Mr Palmer, Miss Lucy Steele
Louise Frost Glossop
Understudy: Mrs Henry Dashwood, Butler, Mrs Charlotte Palmer, Frip, Mr Robert Ferrars, Fanny Dashwood, Henry Dashwood, John Middleton, Miss Grey, Dr Harris, Thomas
Connie O'Callaghan
Understudy: Marianne Dashwood, Mrs Jennings, Edward, Willoughby, Mr John Dashwood
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Creatives
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Behind the Scenes
Get to know Bianca Paine and Natasha McAllister
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RUSH TICKETS
Such was the popularity of Rush tickets for RENT in 2022, particularly for enabling people to see a show more than once, that we are going to continue to offer Rush tickets for mainstage shows in our 2023 season.
Please note:
- Rush tickets to 2023 mainstage shows are $20 each
- There is a strictly limited availability; we cannot guarantee that Rush tickets will be available (e.g. a performance may be sold out)
- Rush tickets can only be purchased at Box Office
- Rush tickets are available for purchase from two hours before show time; no prior reservation of Rush tickets
- Only two tickets per purchaser; seats are not guaranteed to be together
- Seats are assigned by Box Office and may be located anywhere within the auditorium
- No refunds, credits or rebooking
- Rush tickets do not apply to Pay What You Can performances.
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PRESS REVIEWS
"Sense and Sensibility is an entertaining, empowering celebration of women, and one of the best Court Theatre shows I have seen in recent memory."
"This brilliant adaptation pays homage to Austen and honours her legacy as a pioneering female voice in the patriarchal literary world. This is the first production in the Court Theatre’s history with an all female cast, playwright and director, and it’s an absolute triumph."
"A cast of six actors embody 22 different parts in an impressive feat of versatility and skilled character work. Moulder’s confident handling of this complex script is a dream directorial debut."
"Penny Ashton’s adaptation is perfection, leaning into Austen’s ever present wry humour without losing the light touch and subtlety. "
"The performances are deft and nuanced, working to achieve a fine balance between the silly and the sweet. Moreover, it’s a joy to watch people having so much fun on stage."
"Tina Hutchison-Thomas’ clever costumes, designed for swift changes and some magnificently comic flourishes, are augmented with an array of slightly wonky wigs, moustaches and hats. "
"Thoughts heading to the theatre: was Ōtautahi in need of an Austen adaptation? Thoughts driving home afterwards: Yes, indeed."
"Like Jane Austen’s writing, writer Penny Ashton captures the satire and wit of the author, giving Austen’s work a contemporary and localised spin. "
"Set and properties designer, Julian Southgate, has given us a visual treat which becomes as much a part of the story as the action on stage."
"Lighting Designer, Giles Tanner, provided contrasting atmospheres between the bright summer days atop the hills of Devon, to the moody thunderstorms of loves lost and hearts abandoned."
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Subscribe
Sense and Sensibility is included in your Super Subscription, or you can bundle it with at least two other shows to Build Your Own subscription.
If you want more Aotearoa plays, you could create an Aotearoa Play Subscription with:
- Rēwena
- Be Like Billy
- The Haka Party Incident
Add on – Cinderella and Te Kuia me te Pungawerewere (Kids)
If you have young people in your life, they might like, a Youth-Friendly Subscription with:
- Rēwena
- Be Like Billy
Add on - Sweet Science of Bruising (Performed by our Youth Company)
If you want more to see more New Zealand premieres, you could create a Premiere Subscription with:
- Be Like Billy
- Appropriate
- The Appleton Ladies Potato Race (NZ professional premiere)
- Something Rotten!
If you want more some more laughs in your life, you could create a Shades of Comedy Subscription with:
- Appropriate
- The Appleton Ladies Potato Race
- Dance Nation
- Something Rotten!
Add on – Scared Scriptless, Scriptless Attempts and The Jesters’ Holiday Show
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Covid – Your Booking is Safe with Us
To minimise the impact of possible Covid-related closures we employ understudies and swings for our cast and have contingencies to cover essential crew absences.
However, if a performance is affected by Covid and cannot go on, you will not lose out. We will attempt to rebook you to another performance in the show’s season or, if that is not possible, we can explore other options with you such as Court account credits or transferring your tickets to another show.
There are currently no Covid-related restrictions on attending The Court Theatre. However, as always, we encourage you to be mindful of good hygiene, for the sake of your own health, and that of other members of the audience, our cast, crew and staff.
If a show is cancelled:
- Performances most immediately impacted will be texted – to ensure that your details are up-to-date for this purpose, please log into your account (top right on our web pages) and review them now.
- Emails will be sent to all patrons affected outlining the dates of affected performance and the process that will follow to rebook. Typically this will be:
- rebooking your seats for the same night of the week within the following two weeks,
- endeavouring to book you into a similar spot in the auditorium, if possible.
- We telephone anyone we cannot contact via email.
- Your new booking will be emailed to you. If you require further changes, please email us.
We ask people not to phone our Box Office but rather to email us with special requests – this is easier for the team to handle when dealing with significant rebookings.
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Audience Reviews (11)
"Refreshingly funny and quick paced, this show is by no means boring. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time! ""Amazing. One exceptional actress is Kathleen Burns, who plays multiple characters with absolute brilliance. I couldn't take my eyes off her/him! Humorous, fast paced talented, and exceptionally well played by all 6 actresses. Well, well worth a visit.""Absolutely amazing show. Very funny with amazing actresses that played all of the parts so well. Very well done to all the crew!""Laugh out-loud fun with friends, this is fabulous. What a talented cast!""I loved this production: the casting was superb, the set and costume design were absolutely wonderful, and the soundscape was a moody enhancement to this wonderful story. The writing was as impressive as the incredible cast: I found myself counting the actors a few times to check whether there were more than six people on stage! The character work, accents, physical offers and comedic timing all hit a bullseye. Congratulations on this absolute triumph of a show.""The best thing I have ever seen at the court, and I have been going for three decades! My teenager and I loved it. A perfect mix of drama, comedy, fantastic acting - even the use of props and scenery was a standout. Honestly cannot fault it, all involved should be very proud of what they have created. Go and see it - I highly recommend to everyone!""Wow what a show!
So clever - great acting, sets and costumes. I haven't laughed so much in a long time. ""Loved it! Kim Garrett, Eilish Moran, Rebekah Head, exceptional daughter mother relationship.""Hilarious and earnest enough to give me the warm fuzzies at the same time. Perfectly captured Jane Austen's balance of satire, not piss-take, and heart. Lots of it. I might have fallen a little in love.""What a great night out! So funny, clever direction and wonderful acting. Loved it!""This was an exceptional show. It was so faithful to Austen's style and wit, and the actors were wonderful. I loved it so much, I saw it twice!"