Christina Gordon on her role in Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)

Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) opened at Bristol Old Vic on 12 September to five-star reviews, before it embarks upon a UK tour until 28 March 2020.  

In an adaptation like no other, Blood of the Young’s unique take on a beloved novel the hugely acclaimed Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of). They draw on over two-hundred years of romantic pop history.

Six young women have a story to tell. You might have seen them, emptying the chamber pots and sweeping ash from the grate; the overlooked and the undervalued making sure those above stairs find their happy ending. Of course, they’ve always been running the show – after all ‘You can’t have a whirlwind romance without clean bedding’ – but tonight, the servants are also playing every part.

Men, money and microphones will be fought over in this loving and irreverent all-female adaptation of Jane Austen’s unrivalled literary classic. So begins the ruthless match-making.

The Artiscape spoke to Christina Gordon about her role in the play;

Christina Gordon’s previous theatre credits include Glory on Earth (The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh), The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil (National Theatre of Scotland / Dundee Rep), Mancub, (Cumbernauld Theatre) and Rocket Post (National Theatre of Scotland), Witness for the Prosecution, Midsummer and The Witches (Dundee Rep).

What is Gordon looking forward to in appearing in this production?

Gordon: I am looking forward to playing to some amazing venues and cities I have never been to before. I’m also really looking forward to bringing all our difference voices to these places. 

What can she tell us about the character she plays?

Gordon: Jane Bennet is the eldest Bennet sister and is absolute total goodness. She is a character that represents purity and love at first sight, and has so much care for the people she loves in the play, especially her sister Elizabeth with whom she is closest with. She has a naivety to the world and only sees the best in people.

Alternatively, Lady Catherine De Bourgh is a cruel, rude and just generally horrible old woman. She is Darcy’s old and incredibly rich aunt, who plans on marrying him to her aunt and keeping the wealth within the family. She represents the class system and very very old money. 

We asked Gordon to tell us if she played similar roles in the past?

Gordon: Apart from when we did the show last year, I have played similar roles in age to Jane Bennet, but never played a character like Lady Catherine. Mostly because of her age. 

Why does Gordon think audiences are still enthralled by works by Jane Austin?

Gordon: I think Jane Austen has such an incredible way of capturing people that exist in everyone’s lives. Everyone knows someone as unbearable as Mister Collins, or has an over bearing relative like Mrs Bennet.

Everyone knows what it’s like to experience love in the many different forms that are represented in the novel. And it’s just absolutely hilarious, so if it keeps making people laugh, of course people are still going to enjoy it. 

What is different about this production to other representations of Pride and Prejudice?

Gordon: I think the fact that it’s 6 young women playing all the roles is a given. But having 6 women who aren’t afraid to make you laugh and try to have a good time is rare. 

What were the challenges on working in this production?

Gordon: The main challenge was transferring something that absolutely worked in the smaller space it was in, to a much bigger venue. Re-learning something that was in your head so vividly and having to make everything read to a much bigger space was a hard thing to do.

Also trying to find a rhythm and pace to the show that keeps everything moving, because it is a very long novel and we have a lot of information that we need to get out in quite a short space of time.

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