Events

What's on in London: Plied & Prejudice

An immersive show that embraces the absurdity of the Regency era.

Gaydar

09 Mar 2025 — 5 min read

If you're a fan of Regency romance, then Plied and Prejudice could be the immersive theatre experience that you're looking for.

As the name suggests, it's a parody of the Jane Austen classic set amidst a boozy ball - which apparently includes a wet shirt competition.

Five actors play 20 different characters in what promises to be an unhinged night of love, lust, and libations.

We caught up with the writer of the show, Matthew Semple, for a behind-the-scenes look at the production.

What initially drew you to cabaret and theatre-making?

I’ve been involved with theatre and music all my life, and got into writing with a very silly one-man cabaret. I was lucky enough to perform this in Brisbane and Melbourne, and it was an incredible learning experience in writing and producing.

Following this, I was approached to write Woodward Productions’ inaugural production of A Very Naughty Christmas.

I’ve since devised cabarets, plays and musicals, writing book, music and lyrics.

Being a musician influences my writing a lot—I’m always thinking in rhythm, meter, consonant, and vowel sounds.

There's been lots of adaptations and re-imaginings of Pride & Prejudice - what was your process to find a fresh take on the classic?

I love restrictions in the creative process! Give me the world and I’ll come up empty - give me five actors, one set, and a strict runtime, and I start to get excited.

When I started writing, I took the opportunity to look at the story from the outside, and view it as a cultural phenomenon across generations, as well as examining the incredible story at its core.

I took great joy in adapting this classic romance as something between a pantomime and a farce.

Adapting this from an Australian context also gave me a different perspective on the social structures that shackle Lizzy Bennet and Mister Darcy.

I’m never one to shy away from satirising social inequity, and Regency England brings an explicit language to the class structures that remain, though more implicitly, today.

What other literary classics could benefit from the Matthew Semple treatment?

I’m not sure “benefit” is the word I’d use, but I’ll take it most humbly!

Pride and Prejudice was so ripe for comedic treatment because it has such a strong story. The qualities that make Lizzy and Darcy such relatable characters—their complexity, flaws and depth—are also the qualities that make us want to laugh with them. It also helps that the book is hilarious!

I’d love to adapt more stories by authors who share Austen’s perceptiveness and humour. Oscar Wilde, Zelda Fitzgerald, and Charlotte Brontë all come to mind.

I think the strongest parodies are often veiled love letters. That’s definitely true of Plied, and I hope to bring that philosophy to whatever I do next.

Has your focus on Pride & Prejudice given you a love for Regency romances or are you ready to put the Regency period behind you?

I’ve gained such an appreciation and love for Jane Austen’s works, and this story will forever hold a corner of my heart.

It’s a world I’d love to revisit down the line, but with so many stories waiting to be told, I’d be remiss to stay in one place for too long.

There are other horizons I’m eager to explore through musicals, dramas, and of course, madcap parodies.

What do you hope that people feel when they come along to experience Plied & Prejudice?

From the moment they enter the Vaults, our audiences will be transported into a technicolour bacchanal of Regency revelry. The team has created an incredibly beautiful world for the audience to immerse themselves in.

One of the greatest joys I had when we opened this show in Brisbane was seeing audiences of all ages and backgrounds coming together and losing themselves in the silliness, joy and heart that we’ve tried to cram into every moment of this experience. Audiences were leaving the show absolutely beaming, and I'm so excited to share that joy here in London.

It’s not a reverent retelling, so please leave your preconceptions at the door—this is a wild party celebrating Jane Austen as only Aussies can.

Plied and Prejudice at The Vaults in London, runs from 13th March until 18th May – Tickets are available from £19 www.pliedandprejudice.com/london