Worcester Repertory Company has announced that this year’s summer production at The Commandery in Worcester will be Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey.

Jane Austen’s joyful romance follows the naïve Catherine Morland, whose obsession with Gothic horror novels fuels her over-active imagination. When she is invited to stay at Northanger Abbey, nothing is quite as it seems. Thankfully, she finds a down-to-earth suitor in Henry Tilney, although his unusual family may prove just as mysterious as her beloved novels.

This version of Northanger Abbey is adapted and directed by Paul Milton, who returns following last year’s highly successful production of Sense and Sensibility. The production promises to transport audiences to Regency England for a fabulous few hours of romance, laughter, and gothic satire.

Running from Thursday 16 July to Sunday 19 July, and then again from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 26 July, the show will be performed in the gardens of The Commandery, the historic site of the Royalist Headquarters during the Battle of Worcester in 1651. It is the perfect setting in which to lose yourself in the coming-of-age tale and world of Jane Austen this summer.

Ticket prices start at £10.50 for under-25s and £21.00 for adults. A Flexi Ticket, priced between £15.50 and £23.00, is also available allowing audiences to choose their preferred performance on the day rather than booking far in advance.

Sarah-Jane Morgan, Chief Executive & Artistic Director at Worcester Theatres and Executive Producer of Northanger Abbey said, “I am so thrilled to be producing outdoor theatre at The Commandery again this year. It’s one of the highlights of my year and a really popular annual event in our patrons’ theatrical calendars!  

Following the success of Sense and Sensibility last year, which left our audiences with so many fabulous memorable moments throughout the production, I wished there could be a part two! Therefore, I am really excited to be working with Paul Milton once again on another Jane Austen adaptation, I know he will work his artistic magic once again and come up with another spectacular production for the Worcester Rep!”

Paul Milton, Director of Northanger Abbey said, “I'm really pleased that - after last year's Sense and Sensibility - Worcester Theatres have asked me back to adapt and direct Northanger Abbey.  It's a lesser-known Jane Austen novel but it has the flavour of her other romantic work, like Pride and Prejudice. 

We've chosen this particular title because 2026 is the National Year of Reading: the heroine of Northanger Abbey is an avid reader of books, which becomes a central theme of the play.  Our production will be playful, musical and a tiny bit scary while all the time remaining faithful to the original Jane Austen novel.”

To book tickets for Northanger Abbey visit worcestertheatres.co.uk/whats-on/northanger-abbey, call the Box Office on 01905 611427, or speak to the team in person at Huntingdon Hall.