Following his dramatic departure from Albert Square in EastEnders’ live 40th-anniversary episode, actor James Bye will take on the iconic role of Mr. Darcy in a theatrical world premiere of a Jane Austen inspired show in Reading.
As part of the Thames-side town’s celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the world-famous author’s birth this year, The Mill at Sonning will be the first to stage a new adaptation of Death Comes to Pemberley, a show based on a PD James novel.
Set in the idyllic estate of Pemberley, home to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice it becomes the stage for a chilling mystery, imagined by one of Britain’s finest ever crime novelists.
And it has now been revealed that the role of Darcy will be played by the former soap star in his first post Eastenders role after his character Martin Fowler died in the Queen Vic explosion.
Leaving behind a decade of gritty story lines on the long running BBC TV drama, the actor will now be treading the boards at the award-winning theatre beside the River Thames from 1 May until 28 June 2025, before the production tours the UK. Casualty’s Jamie-Rose Duke will play Elizabeth Darcy.
Tickets cost from £55.50 per person and include a two-course meal in the theatre’s restaurant before the show (www.millatsonning.com/shows/death-comes-to-pemberley/).
It is just one of the ways Reading is marking its connections to Austen, during a year in which fans worldwide are celebrating what would have been her 250th birthday.
Visitors will have the opportunity to visit the school room, in the dramatic setting of the former Gateway to medieval Reading Abbey, where Jane and her sister Cassandra were educated for 18 months.
The location has previously only been open for educational workshops and booked tours, offering true-to-life Victorian schoolroom activities for youngsters learning about that period of history. But Official Abbey Quarter Tours, which start again for the season on Saturday 5 April, will now feature exclusive access to the school, while new interpretation will explain more about her time there, as well as her family connections to the area.
Reading Museum will also be staging a series of special events, including ‘Jane Austen Wednesdays’ throughout May and June, ranging from a talk on ‘A Day in the Life of A Regency Lady’ to a workshop on natural ink making, experimenting with Austen’s own recipe.
For a tempting Regency era treat, the 5-star Roseate Reading Hotel, next door to the schoolroom, will be offering special Jane Austen Afternoon Teas throughout May and June 2025, taking inspiration from Georgian-period recipes.
More information about anniversary events can be found at www.visit-reading.com/janeausten
For tourist information on Reading as a destination, see www.visit-reading.com
Photos: Michael Wharley
