# Austentatious
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{{short description|Long-form improvised comedy show}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox musical
| name = Austentatious
| image = Austentatious stage.jpg
| image_size =
| premiere_date = 2011
| premiere_location = [West End of London](/source/West_End_of_London)
| productions = {{ubl|Premiered in London in 2011;|[Edinburgh Festival Fringe](/source/Edinburgh_Festival_Fringe) since 2012;|Residency in [West End of London](/source/West_End_of_London) since 2017, currently at the [Vaudeville Theatre](/source/Vaudeville_Theatre).}}
| basis = {{ubl|Works of [Jane Austen](/source/Jane_Austen)|Comedy|[History (theatrical genre)](/source/History_(theatrical_genre))|[Improvisational theatre](/source/Improvisational_theatre)}}
| subtitle = An Improvised Jane Austen Novel
| setting = [Home Counties](/source/Home_Counties), England
| awards = 2014 [Chortle Award](/source/Chortle_Award) for Best Character, Improv or Sketch Act
}}
'''Austentatious (An Improvised Jane Austen Novel)''' is a long-form improvised comedy show, in the style of a [Jane Austen](/source/Jane_Austen) novel, where each show is improvised by a six-strong cast, based on a title suggested by a member of the audience. Beginning in 2011 in London,[{{cite news|first=Tristram|last=Fane Saunders|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comedy/what-to-see/austentatious-cult-comedy-troupe-bringing-jane-austens-lost/|title=The Beatles of Comedy|work=[The Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)|date=November 2017|accessdate=23 April 2020}}] the original cast members took the show to the [Edinburgh Festival](/source/Edinburgh_Festival_Fringe) [Free Fringe](/source/Free_Fringe) in the summer of 2012. Following their initial success, they began performing a monthly show in London, transferring to the [West End](/source/West_End_theatre) in 2017, and have since performed on [BBC Radio 4](/source/BBC_Radio_4), on tour, and at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Since November 2022, Austentatious has been performed weekly at the [Arts Theatre](/source/Arts_Theatre) in the West End. After a winter break over December 2022, the Monday evening performances resumed in February 2023 and ran until December 2023.
The show has since announced a renewed residency at the Arts Theatre, starting in late January 2024, scheduled until late July 2024.
thumb|The cast of a performance of Austentatious in October 2023.
The show also appeared at [Regent's Park Open Air Theatre](/source/Regent's_Park_Open_Air_Theatre) on 16 July 2023, and at [McEwan Hall](/source/McEwan_Hall) as part of the [Fringe Festival](/source/Edinburgh_Festival_Fringe) from 5 to 13 August 2023.[{{Cite web |last=Banana |first=Giant |date=2016-04-27 |title=London |url=https://www.austentatiousimpro.com/shows/london/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Austentatious |language=en}}][{{Cite web |last=Banana |first=Giant |date=2016-04-27 |title=Tour |url=https://www.austentatiousimpro.com/shows/tour/ |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=Austentatious |language=en}}]
== Cast ==
Austentatious was originally formed by members of [The Oxford Imps](/source/The_Oxford_Imps) and has gained and lost members since 2011. The 9 current members perform six at a time and include:
* Amy Cooke-Hodgson (founder)
* Graham Dickson (founder)
* [Cariad Lloyd](/source/Cariad_Lloyd) (founder)
* Joseph Morpurgo (founder) – nominated for an [Edinburgh Comedy Award](/source/Edinburgh_Comedy_Award) in 2015 for solo work
* [Andrew Hunter Murray](/source/Andrew_Hunter_Murray) (founder)
* [Rachel Parris](/source/Rachel_Parris) (founder)
* Charlotte Gittins
* Daniel Nils Roberts
* Lauren Shearing – also a cast member of ''[Showstopper! The Improvised Musical](/source/Showstopper!_The_Improvised_Musical)''
==Performances==
At the beginning of the show, audience members are asked to suggest a title in the 'style' of Jane Austen; past titles have included ''Bath to the Future'' (referencing both the city of [Bath](/source/Bath_(city)) and the ''[Back to the Future](/source/Back_to_the_Future)'' film) ''How To Court a Gent in 10 Days'' (a take on the film ''[How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days](/source/How_to_Lose_a_Guy_in_10_Days)''), ''Mansfield Shark'' (a pun on Austen's book ''[Mansfield Park](/source/Mansfield_Park)''), ''Strictly Come Darcy'' (referring to the television show ''[Strictly Come Dancing](/source/Strictly_Come_Dancing)'' and Austen's character [Mr. Darcy](/source/Mr._Darcy)), and ''Shelves in the Closet'' (a reference to [Elizabeth Bennet](/source/Elizabeth_Bennet)'s line in ''[Pride and Prejudice](/source/Pride_and_Prejudice)'').[{{cite web |last1=Foulger |first1=Laura |date=25 February 2019 |title=Brilliantly silly, well-executed, and frequently hilarious |url=https://www.officialtheatre.com/fortune-theatre/austentatious-the-improvised-jane-austen-novel/review-205/ |access-date=27 November 2020 |website=Official Theatre}}][{{cite news |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Charles |date=17 July 2019 |title=Novel way to create a Jane Austen story booked for Fringe |work=York Press |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/17776789.novel-way-create-jane-austen-story-booked-fringe/ |access-date=27 November 2020}}][{{Cite web |title=Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel: 5 star review by Gareth Williams |url=https://broadwaybaby.com/shows/austentatious-an-improvised-jane-austen-novel/757150 |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=broadwaybaby.com |language=en}}]
[[File:Austentatious Gift Box.jpg|thumb|A gift box given to VIP seating at the [Arts Theatre](/source/Arts_Theatre) containing Austentatious merchandise and memorabilia.]]
thumb|The Austentatious stage pre-performance in June 2023, showing the regal backdrop and wooden chairs.
Austentatious was performed at the Queen's Reading Room Festival at [Hampton Court Palace](/source/Hampton_Court_Palace) on 11 June 2023. [Queen Camilla](/source/Queen_Camilla) herself chose the title of ''Persuasion and an Odd Occasion'' for the performance.[{{Cite news |last=McTaggart |first=India |date=2023-03-29 |title=Queen commissions play in the style of Jane Austen to be performed at first reading festival |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/03/29/queen-jane-austen-play-royal-family-reading-festival/ |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0307-1235}}]
==History==
===Origin===
Four of the original six members of the cast, Cooke-Hodgson, Morpurgo, [Murray](/source/Andrew_Hunter_Murray) and [Parris](/source/Rachel_Parris) had been members of [The Oxford Imps](/source/The_Oxford_Imps) while studying in [Oxford](/source/Oxford) and wanted to explore long-form improvised comedy. Parris and Cooke-Hodgson originated the idea of a Jane Austen themed show, and together with fellow improvisers [Lloyd](/source/Cariad_Lloyd) and Dickson, then began performing ''Austentatious'' together.[{{cite news |last1=McAlister |first1=Katherine |title=Losing the plot has never been so funny for the cast of Austentatious |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/leisure/11124077.losing-plot-never-funny-cast-austentatious/ |work=Oxford Mail |access-date=27 November 2020 |date=3 April 2014}}]
===Early success===
After initial performances in London in 2011, the original cast performed the show at the 2012 [Free Fringe](/source/Free_Fringe), receiving positive reviews and sell-out crowds.[{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Claire |title=Comedy review: Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel, Laughing Horse @ The Counting House (Venue 170), Edinburgh |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/comedy-review-austentatious-improvised-jane-austen-novel-laughing-horse-counting-house-venue-170-edinburgh-2463040 |access-date=27 November 2020 |work=The Scotsman |date=23 August 2012}}][{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Steve |title=Austentatious: Fringe 2012 |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2012/08/17/28935/austentatious:_fringe_2012 |access-date=27 November 2020 |work=Chortle |date=17 August 2012}}]
Following this success they continued to perform across the UK, adding Roberts and Gittins to the cast. They began a regular monthly show in London, initially at the [Leicester Square Theatre](/source/Leicester_Square_Theatre) and have returned to the [Edinburgh Fringe](/source/Edinburgh_Festival_Fringe) annually, selling out the show every year from 2014 to 2018. In 2013 ''[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)'''s review gave the show four stars and described it as "one of the most enjoyable 60 minutes on the fringe".[{{cite news |last1=Logan |first1=Brian |title=Austentatious – Edinburgh festival 2013 review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/aug/14/austentatious-edinburgh-festival-review |access-date=23 November 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=14 August 2013}}]
In 2014 the show won the [Chortle Award](/source/Chortle_Award) for Best Character, Improv or Sketch Act.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bckJ0qNpCI|title=Chortle Awards 2014: Best character, improv or sketch group: Austentatious| website=YouTube|date=28 March 2014 }}][{{cite news |last1=Longman |first1=Will |title=Austentatious to move to the Fortune Theatre in 2019 |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/austentatious-to-move-to-the-fortune-theatre-in-2019 |accessdate=21 November 2020 |work=London Theatre |date=17 December 2018}}][{{cite news |last1=Cearns |first1=Liz |title=BWW Review: AUSTENTATIOUS, Fortune Theatre |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BWW-Review-AUSTENTATIOUS-Fortune-Theatre-20190226 |accessdate=21 November 2020 |work=Broadway World |date=26 February 2019}}] They have performed two 30-minute shows on [BBC Radio 4](/source/BBC_Radio_4),[{{cite web |title=Austentatious |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/austentatious/ |website=Comedy.co.uk |access-date=23 November 2020}}][{{cite web |title=A Cad and Bounder – Austentatious |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p056fhjy |website=BBC |date=20 June 2017 |accessdate=21 November 2020}}][{{cite web |title=Austentatious |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000c8qr |website=BBC}}] and have performed in [McEwan Hall](/source/McEwan_Hall), the largest space at the festival, during the Fringe.[{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Mica |title=Austentatious – Edinburgh Fringe 2018 |url=http://young-perspective.net/austentatious-edinburgh-fringe-2018/ |access-date=23 November 2020 |work=Young Perspective |date=25 August 2018}}]
A further residency at the [Fortune Theatre](/source/Fortune_Theatre) was announced for February to July 2020.[{{cite news |title=AUSTENTATIOUS Will Launch Weekly Residency At Fortune Theatre On 24th February |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/AUSTENTATIOUS-Will-Launch-Weekly-Residency-At-Fortune-Theatre-On-24th-February-20200207 |accessdate=21 November 2020 |work=Broadway World |date=7 February 2020}}] The residency was cut short after West End theatres shut as part of the [COVID-19 lockdown](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom). On 29 August 2020, they performed a one-off outdoor show in [Streatham](/source/Streatham).[{{cite web |title=Saturday 29th August |url=https://secretgardenconcerts.com/29th-august/ |website=Secret Garden Concerts |accessdate=21 November 2020}}]
From November 2022, the show has occupied a weekly residency at the [Arts Theatre](/source/Arts_Theatre) that ran throughout 2023 with a summer break. This residency was extended from January 2024 to July 2024.
From March 2025, the show has a weekly residency every Monday at the [Vaudeville Theatre](/source/Vaudeville_Theatre) that is set to last until July 2025.[{{Cite web |date=2025-03-21 |title=Austentatious returns to the West End |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/austentatious-returns-to-the-west-end_1670524/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |language=en-US}}]
==See also==
*[Jane Austen fan fiction](/source/Jane_Austen_fan_fiction)
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.austentatiousimpro.com/}}
Category:Improvisational theatre
Category:2011 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Adaptations of works by Jane Austen
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Austentatious](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austentatious) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austentatious?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.