An Evening With Jane Austen

Those of you who know me will be able to imagine how thrilled I was to receive news from Adrian Lukis of an event that is taking place at Godmersham House, Canterbury on 6th September 2015.

The event, An Evening with Jane Austen, features readings from Adrian and the wonderful Caroline Langrishe, with music and songs performed by harpist, Camilla Pay, and soprano, Rosie Lomas.

This looks like a marvellous night of entertainment and I shall certainly be there; if you are planning to attend, do come and say hello!

"Spend a magical evening in the company of Mr Adrian Lukis and Miss Caroline Langrishe, as they bring to life a number of Miss Jane Austen's most memorable characters. Performing duologues from Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion, these talented actors explore Miss Austen's world, from the comic absurdity of the Dashwoods, to the duplicity of Wickham, and the heartfelt passion of Wentworth and Anne."

Read more at: Godmersham Park Heritage Centre.

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An Evening with Jane Austen at Godmersham House

This year the Godmersham Park Heritage Centre is hosting a special evening to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park with readings by Caroline Langrishe and Adrian Lukis and music by Camilla Pay (Harpist) and Rosie Lomas (soprano).

Venue: Godmersham Park House
Time: 6pm - 8:30pm
Date: Sunday 6th September 2015

Ticket cost: £30.00 per person 

The evening's performance will take place in The Hall at Godmersham Park House. This room features stunning original Georgian Neo-classical decorations and molded wooden panels. Guests will be welcomed in with elegant harp music played by Camilla Pay. The performance will start promptly at 6:15pm, and will last until approx. 8:30pm. There will be an interval in the middle, with drinks and canapes served in the Drawing Room. After the performance there will be a chance to meet Caroline and Adrian.

There will also be a Gift Shop for those of you who wish to take home a souvenir. 

Please follow this link to book tickets and if you need help or have any questions, contact Rebecca on 01227 732272.

Caroline Langrishe is probably best known for playing Georgina Channing in Judge John Deed, Charlotte Cavendish in Lovejoy and Marilyn Fox in Casualty. Other TV appearances include Death in Paradise, Outnumbered,Peter Versus Life, Midsomer Murders,Lady Anne Carmoynes in Sharpe, Poirot, Penny in Chancer, Pulaski, Wuthering Heights, Anna Karenina and The Glittering Prizes. In the theatre she most recently in The Nightmares of Carlos Fuentes at the Arcola Theatre and the Memory of Water at the Stephen Joseph Theatre. Theatre credits also include Hay Fever, Private Lives, Present Laughter, Murderer, Marrying the Mistress,The Way of the World,Our Song, An Ideal Husband, The Cherry Orchard Olivia in Kenneth Branagh's production of Twelfth Night which was also filmed and Much Ado About Nothing, Danton's Death, A Month in the Country and Don Juan at the National Theatre. Film appearances include Plastic, Love's Kitchen, Kisna, Rogue Trader, Cleopatra, Dead Man's Folly, A Christmas Carol, Les Miserables, Mistral's Daughter, Death Watch and The Eagle's Wing.
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Adrian Lukis is perhaps best known for his portrayal of George Wickham in the 1994 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice. He also played Doctor Shearer in the hugely successful series, Peak Practice. Adrian has recently filmed his second series of the BAFTA nominated comedy series, Toast of London and can shortly be seen in upcoming episodes of Death in Paradise, Camp X, set in WW2 and Borgia. He has appeared in Midsommer Murders (twice!), Lewis, Prime Suspect, Poirot, Spooks, Fresh Meat, Pete versus Life, Outnumbered and many other television programmes. Theatre work includes seasons with the Royal National Theatre and The Royal Shakespeare Company as well as the West End and many appearances in regional and touring theatre.
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Camilla Pay is one of the leading young harpists in London today. Her love for music began at an early age and grew even stronger at eight when she first played the harp. During her time as a music scholar at King’s School Canterbury, she was twice overall winner at the Kent Festival, regional finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year and finalist in the World Harp Festival. In 1997, she was awarded the Craxton Memorial Award and an entrance scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, where she graduated with honours, on a Bachelor of music degree. There, she studied with acclaimed harpists, Skaila Kanga and Daphne Boden. 

Camilla has worked with many artists including:
Alfie Boe; Andrea Bocelli; Annie Lennox; Barry Manilow; Bette Midler; Beyoncé, Ellie Goulding; Enya; Fun; George Benson; Il Divo; Jay-Z; Josh Groban; Kayne West; Katherine Jenkins; Madness; Michael Bublé; McFly; Morrissey; Paul Weller; Rihanna; The Killers and The Streets. 
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Rosie Lomas graduated from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2011 with a distinction in her final recital.

She made her operatic debut with English National Opera in 2011 as American Suburban Girl in Nico Muhly's opera Two Boys. In June 2013 Rosie returned to ENO to play the joint roles of Lucy and Josh in Philip Glass's The Perfect American, having performed at its world premiere in Madrid in January 2013. She also performed the role in Brisbane Festival in September 2014.

Other operatic roles include Flora in The Turn of the Screw with Holland Park Opera (July 2014) and at the Festival di Spoleto (June 2012), First Witch and Second Woman in Dido and Aeneas (Ad Parnassum), Cupid in Venus and Adonis (Ad Parnassum) and Bastienne in Bastien & Bastienne with Opera Alegria (February 2015).
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Evening Programme

6pm Arrival & Harp Recital
6:15pm an Evening with Jane Austen Part 1
7pm Interval & Refreshments
7:40pm Harp Recital
7:55pm an Evening with Jane Austen Part 2

What Audiences Say...

"…perfect, really wonderful this evening has made my birthday perfect…"

"…the Persuasion piece sent shivers through me, my goodness Adrian and Caroline are good."

"…superb, Austen's unbeatable dialogue given the professional treatment by two superb actors."

"…the best Wickham ever!"

"…I loved Caroline, fantastic how convincing each change of character was, wow!"

"…hilarious, the funniest portrayal of Henry Tilney by Mr Lukis I have ever seen, he really highlighted the irony in Austen's writing, brilliant!"


"…Caroline and Adrian complimented each other perfectly, a truly wonderful evening, thank-you."