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Emma
Emma Woodhouse thinks she has it all figured out. Fresh from Oxford University and back in her hometown for the summer, she's ready to do what she does sort out everyone else's lives, whether they like it or not.
Her closest friend Harriet is a total dating disaster, her father keeps disappearing on mysterious errands, and George Knightley refuses to stop pointing out the flaws in her flawless plans. But Emma knows best... right?
Emma is Jane Austen's timeless classic of romance, friendship, and the tricky business of figuring out what truly makes us happy. Ava Pickett's irresistible adaptation joyously pulls the story into the twenty-first century, swapping drawing-room duets for dance-floor fillers. It premiered at Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames, in 2025, directed by Christopher Haydon.
Her closest friend Harriet is a total dating disaster, her father keeps disappearing on mysterious errands, and George Knightley refuses to stop pointing out the flaws in her flawless plans. But Emma knows best... right?
Emma is Jane Austen's timeless classic of romance, friendship, and the tricky business of figuring out what truly makes us happy. Ava Pickett's irresistible adaptation joyously pulls the story into the twenty-first century, swapping drawing-room duets for dance-floor fillers. It premiered at Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames, in 2025, directed by Christopher Haydon.
149 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 6, 2026
I wasn't QUITE as enamored of this as I was by Pickett's other two plays. It basically follows the broad outlines of the Austen original, transferring the action to modern times and to unfashionable Highbury, Essex.
I think there are two issues that keep it from being top drawer - first, Pickett's turned it into a farce, which works against the more subtle underpinnings of the OG and hurries the action so that everything takes place at breakneck speed, with entrances and exits fast and furious, often without any real motivation.
Secondly, there are 28 scenes over 120 pages, which means just as a scene gets going, it's over - they lack development and air to breathe. Pickett's done well, though, to emphasize that the story is really more about female friendship and empowerment than it is about who winds up with who.
It seemed to have played well, getting respectable reviews, and if it were playing near me, I'd still go see it. But am hoping for better things with the playwright's upcoming Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy.
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/202...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUU_f...
https://www.facebook.com/rosetheatrek...
I think there are two issues that keep it from being top drawer - first, Pickett's turned it into a farce, which works against the more subtle underpinnings of the OG and hurries the action so that everything takes place at breakneck speed, with entrances and exits fast and furious, often without any real motivation.
Secondly, there are 28 scenes over 120 pages, which means just as a scene gets going, it's over - they lack development and air to breathe. Pickett's done well, though, to emphasize that the story is really more about female friendship and empowerment than it is about who winds up with who.
It seemed to have played well, getting respectable reviews, and if it were playing near me, I'd still go see it. But am hoping for better things with the playwright's upcoming Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy.
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/202...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUU_f...
https://www.facebook.com/rosetheatrek...
October 24, 2025
Play review: This has restarted my intiative to finally give Austen a try! I half-heartedly began reading Wuthering Heights years ago and I couldn't get into it, so it sort of put me off Bronte/ Austen and their contemporaries. However last year when I read Little Women by Alcott I was pleasantly surprised so this is the final push I needed to give it a bash. I've even downloaded The Jane Austen Collection on Audible read by A-Listers like Claire Foy and Florence Pugh. I'm hoping their readings will keep me engaged so I can see what I've been missing out on. After I finish my current book series I will read an Austen every other book until the collection is done and then I'll move onto Bronte hopefully. It's about time I get more women written classics under my belt anyway.
Onto this play. Obviously not having read any Austen I didn't know any of the story of Emma so don't know how loose this adaptation is. I really enjoyed some aspects of the play, great jokes and character comedy. I especially loved the Dad's monologue about grief (and custard tarts). My main problem was I found Emma's actions so despicable throughout I honestly couldn't see why people wanted her around. I researched Austen's Emma to see if that's what the vibe is but from what I gather the book is about Emma meddling because she believes it's for the good of those around her but it keeps crashing down. This version felt like Emma was only selfishly motivated and was so negative I found it hard to care for her or see why others did at no point did we see kindness or even a lighter energy, right up until the very end.
I also felt like some of the character portrayals were almost offensive in their working class Essex exaggerations. I understand the concept being what if classical feminist literature meets Eastenders/TOWIE but a lot of it smacked of a middle class creative team and actors doing what they think it's like to be working class.
Onto this play. Obviously not having read any Austen I didn't know any of the story of Emma so don't know how loose this adaptation is. I really enjoyed some aspects of the play, great jokes and character comedy. I especially loved the Dad's monologue about grief (and custard tarts). My main problem was I found Emma's actions so despicable throughout I honestly couldn't see why people wanted her around. I researched Austen's Emma to see if that's what the vibe is but from what I gather the book is about Emma meddling because she believes it's for the good of those around her but it keeps crashing down. This version felt like Emma was only selfishly motivated and was so negative I found it hard to care for her or see why others did at no point did we see kindness or even a lighter energy, right up until the very end.
I also felt like some of the character portrayals were almost offensive in their working class Essex exaggerations. I understand the concept being what if classical feminist literature meets Eastenders/TOWIE but a lot of it smacked of a middle class creative team and actors doing what they think it's like to be working class.
November 24, 2025
FANTASTIC contemporary adaptation. 100% captures the point and spirit and energy of the Austen. I loved it. More fun interesting creative adaptations like this please
January 5, 2026
This is a clever and modern adaptation of Emma. I laughed out loud quite a lot. I would have loved to see it performed live on stage.
Review of advance copy
a gorgeous play with such a huge heart. real people. real feelings. relatable asf. love love love.
July 18, 2026
excellent fun v joyous
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews