In celebration of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, Rose Theatre has announced the full cast and creative team for the world premiere of Ava Pickett’s new adaptation of Emma.
Directed by Rose Theatre’s Artistic Director Christopher Haydon, this fresh take on Austen’s classic rom-com swaps drawing room duets for dance floor-fillers, bringing matchmaking and mischief into the 21st century.
The cast features Amelia Kenworthy (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) as Emma Woodhouse, Kit Young (Shadow and Bone) as George Knightley, Nigel Lindsay (Kiss Me Kate) as Mr. Woodhouse, and Lucy Benjamin (EastEnders) as Mrs. Bates.
Also joining the cast are Josh Bilyard as Rob Martin, Jessica Brindle (Top Girls) as Isabella Woodhouse, Bobby Lockwood (Wolfblood) as Elton, Sofia Oxenham (Poldark) as Harriet Smith, and Adrian Richards (Noises Off!) as John Knightley.
The creative team includes Lily Arnold (Set & Costume Designer), Kloé Dean (Movement Director), Philip Gladwell (Lighting Designer), Kieran Lucas (Composer & Sound Designer), Haruka Kuroda (Intimacy & Fight Director), Juliet Horsley CDG (Casting Director), Claudette Williams (Voice & Dialect Coach), and Melissa Mowry (Associate Director).
Emma runs at Rose Theatre, Kingston from 17 September to 11 October 2025, with the press night scheduled for Monday 22 September.
Ava Pickett said: “Emma Woodhouse is one of my favourite literary heroines ‘cos she’s the ultimate ‘unlikeable female character’, and it’s been such a joy to bring all of her good intentions, bad assessments, and wildly misplaced confidence to a story that’s set now. I’ve had such fun watching Emma try to navigate the chaos of her early twenties (pointing out everyone else’s shortcomings instead of her own) and redefine her relationship with Harriet Smith, to create a show that’s as much about female friendship as it is about love. I can’t wait for you to meet her (but don’t take whatever she says about you personally)!”
Christopher Haydon added: “I am absolutely buzzing about the phenomenal cast we have put together for the world premiere of Ava Pickett’s hilarious adaptation of Emma. We have some of the best comic actors in the business in a cast stuffed with BAFTA and Olivier winners and nominees. Watching Ava develop this script over recent months has been an enormous pleasure – she brings real wit and heart to the story. I can absolutely see why Baz Luhrmann is such a huge fan of her work – she is one of the finest writers of her generation. Although Ava’s is a thoroughly modern Emma, I have no doubt that Jane Austen would approve.”
This production is supported by Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Eilene Davidson Productions.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
